A delegation from the Russian General Staff Academy (GSA), led by GSA Commandant General Vladimir JAKOVLEV and known as the Mobile Education and Training Team (METT), started its five-day visit to the NATO Defense College today. The team members were warmly welcomed by the NDC Commandant, Lieutenant General Wolf Dieter LOESER. They familiarized themselves with the NDC by attending several briefings and taking part in round tables that gave them an exhaustive picture of the College’s activities and strategic level educational offer.
The visit is held in accordance with the NATO-Russia Council work plan for 2010 and follows a similar visit paid in October by a NATO delegation to Moscow. It is a valuable opportunity to improve mutual understanding and knowledge of topics such as respective defence and security policy, the common interests of NATO and Russia, and the Russian experience in Afghanistan.
The involvement of the NATO Defense College, the Alliance’s flagship educational institute, in the implementation of the partnership between NATO and Russia underlines the high level of importance accorded by NATO to its counterpart.
Senior Course 117 Course Members will also benefit from the visit. They will hear lectures on Russian topics and will have the chance to submit their questions to the delegation during the Question and Answer periods.
As the NATO Secretary General, Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN, said during his recent visit to Moscow:
“We see Russia as a partner of strategic importance. We want to do more with you to make our world safer, on the basis of trust, confidence and reciprocity.”
This visit represents one of the steps that, it is hoped, will lead to enhanced cooperation between NATO and Russia and will bring mutual benefits, not only in the field of defence and security but across the whole spectrum of international relations.
LtCol. Mario Masdea, Chief Public Affairs and Protocol Officer, ITA-A
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN 
