The second full 10-week NATO Regional Cooperation Course began here at NATO Defense College on Monday 28 September, with attendance scheduled for nearly 20 students from 14 countries.
The purpose of the NRCC is to examine common security challenges from the perspectives of the NATO, ICI and MD nations in order to build greater understanding, trust and cooperation.
The Commandant of the NATO Defense College, Lieutenant General Wolf-Dieter Loeser, welcomed H.E. Ambassador Mahmoud Karem of Egypt as the keynote speaker to inaugurate the new course.
Ambassador Karem’s address was thought-provoking and gave a comprehensive survey of the key strategic challenges facing both NATO and the region. In a wide-ranging, thoughtful and balanced manner he touched upon several key issues, including non-proliferation, extremism, post-conflict reconstruction, the comprehensive approach and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In his opening remarks the Ambassador set the tone for the NRCC by stressing that the world is not an isolated community governed by unilateral approaches and that each course member needs to reflect on what could be done to achieve a dream of world peace and international security. As Ambassador Karem put it: “In conclusion, what we should always remember is that prolonging the conflict is an alibi used by fundamentalist forces to foment anarchy in our part of the world. Let us solve the Middle East problem once and for all, let us offer our new generations the chance to live in peace with all their neighbours, let us create a culture of peace and cooperation, let us accept the right of all to leave in peace away from all threats and behind secure borders. Let us give peace a chance. Now is the time. Now is the time.”
NDC Public Affairs Office
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN