The 58th YATA Conference Hosted by the NATO Defense College

On 4th February, the NATO Defense College (NDC) in Rome hosted the 58th Annual Conference of the Youth Atlantic Treaty Association (YATA).

The event gathered members of national chapters of YATA for an intense day of conferences and forum discussions on topics related to NATO and its agenda for the immediate future, with a special focus on the new generations in the broader Middle East. The day was opened by the welcoming remarks of Prof. Antongiulio De Robertis, Vice President of the Italian Atlantic Committee, and of Ms Kristin Durant, President of YATA, who both provided a platform for the opening address of Ms Antonella Cerasino, from the Public Diplomacy Division of NATO Headquarters in Brussels. Ms Cerasino introduced the audience to the topics that currently drive NATO’s agenda, and explained how the Alliance will address future threats and challenges. In this respect, the Connected Forces Initiative and Smart Defence play a key role in NATO’s strategy; the enhancement of dialogue and cooperation with partner countries also remains a fundamental long-term objective.

The first forum of the day was entitled “The new generation and the future of the broader Middle East”. This session afforded the young audience the opportunity to interact with the Chairman, Dr Peter Stania, Director of the International Institute for Peace, and the lecturers. They were Ms Amira Mekheimar, from the EU-Egypt Association Agreement Program, Ms Nabila Ramdani, journalist and political commentator, Dr Amer Al-Sabaileh, from the University of Jordan, and Mr Sultan Al-Qassemi, columnist and social media commentator. The speakers provided their insightful perspective on how the younger generations in the broader Middle East see and interpret recent and current developments on the political scene, both national and international.

The second session, again with a panel of lecturers, focused on the future of NATO partnerships. The panel was chaired and introduce by Mr Bruno Lete, from the German Marshall Fund of the United States, and was composed of Dr Antonia Colibasanu, from Stratfor, Mr Tommy Steiner, from the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, Mr Elkhan Mehtiyev, Director of the Peace and Conflict Resolution Center of Azerbaijan, and Mr Haseeb Humayoon, founding member of the “Afghanistan 1400” political movement. They presented YATA members and NDC Staff with a sound assessment of how the Strategic Concept approved in Lisbon impacts on the current NATO agenda, especially in terms of partnerships. All speakers agreed that the enhancement of ties and cooperative trends with partner countries will be crucial for the security and stability of areas such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Caucasus and the broader Middle East. They also remarked on the need for attentive assessment of the challenges that such a policy entails.

The third and last part of the day was dedicated to the Youth Programs, with an introductory speech by Mr Graziano Gallitto, President of the Consules Association. A presentation of the Reports on New Transatlantic Relations Course 2012-13 was followed by the remarks of Mr Emiliano Stornelli, from the Italian Atlantic Committee. Proceedings were closed by Ms Kristin Durant, President of YATA.

The YATA Conference set the scene for the 58th Conference of the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA), scheduled on 5-6 February 2013 at the NDC.

NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Eleonora Fuser, ITA C)