Sc 114 Summer Field Study- The European Perspectives.
Cairo- hot, but very interesting

The Senior Course (SC) consists of 23 weeks of strategic studies on security policy and international relations to prepare high level military officers, diplomats and government officials for future, multinational assignments. The academic programme includes two academic excursions (field studies) to capitals and cities of major political and/or military importance. The spring field study covered the Transatlantic link; and this summer field study covers the European perspectives by visiting: Cairo, Vilnius, Moscow, Warsaw, Budapest, Berlin, London and Zagreb.

NDC SC 114 visited Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt, 9 -11 June. This is the first field study trip to Egypt and marks the beginning of a new era in the relationship between the region and NDC.

During the visit the Commandant and a small NDC group were privileged to be received by the Egyptian Forces Chief of Staff (CoS) – Lieutenant General Sami Hafes Enan. The meeting was upbeat, very cordial and business like, and gave the Commandant the opportunity to stress the historic importance of the NDC’s first visit to Egypt. The Commandant thanked Lt Gen Enan for his strong support for the NDC and its various courses – emphasising in particular, the NRCC and the NDC Middle East Faculty. Lt Gen Enan responded by declaring his respect and support for the work of the NDC and its Middle East outreach, and praised the open and objective ethos within the College. The General’s personal enthusiasm for the NDC was clearly evident. The meeting ended on a note of mutual commitment to further develop relations between Egypt and the NDC and was an extremely successful event within the programme.

The SC visited the ”Nasser Higher Military Academy” and received an informative brief on the ”security situation in the Middle East” presented by Brigadier General Waeel Rabie from the military intelligence department followed by an interesting Q & A.

The main messages from him were:

• State of unrest in the region – difficult to settle one problem without disturbing others
• Israel’s right wing government makes solutions (two states) difficult
• Egypt see PLO and not Hamas as the legitimate representative of the Palestinians
• The Palestinian issue ”feeds” other conflicts
• Egypt supports a two state solution and expects NATO to use its influence on Israel
• The Nile basin water usage is based on an International Agreement and Egypt want no change to it
• State of unrest in the region – difficult to settle one problem without disturbing others
• In Sudan the NEFASH agreement (North/South) may fall apart and cause problems
• Iran has hostile policies towards the regional countries, but Egypt supports only diplomatic solutions

Then the Commandant of the Academy, Major General Taha Mohamed el Sayed, briefed on the Academy, followed by a Q & A period.

The Nasser Higher Military Academy consists of three separate entities; the Strategic Studies Centre, National Defence College and High War College. Before joining the Academy the students have a Master Degree and at least the rank of Colonel for military personnel. All the courses (except one) are lectured in Arabic by a Teaching Staff mostly recruited from retired higher officers. The Commandant described his task as providing educational services.

The Egyptian hospitality gave an insight into the rich and long history of Egypt and its cuisine, and started with an elegant dinner on a beautiful island in the Nile, hosted by MOD Egypt. The educational part of the cultural visit started with an impressive guided tour of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and ended up at the pyramids and the sound and light show telling the Egyptian history. The spouses also found time to visit the majestic pyramids themselves and some even entered the burial chamber – something they will remember for life.

Prepared by Captain Harald Hakonsen, NOR N