On May 13, 2011, the graduation for the fifth NATO Regional Cooperation Course (NRCC-5) took place at the NATO Defense College (NDC) in Rome. The NRCC is a ten-week course for participants from NATO, the Mediterranean Dialogue (MD), the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI), and other interested nations. Its aim is to study the security challenges of the Middle East and North Africa. The graduation address was delivered by Lieutenant General Walter E. Gaskin, Deputy Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee, who was warmly welcomed by the Commandant of the NDC, Lieutenant General Wolf-Dieter Loeser.
In the Commandant’s welcome remarks, he mentioned the importance of this particular NRCC due to the “Arab Spring” and the NATO’s on going Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR regarding Libya. The Commandant stressed that partnerships are vital in order to confront common challenges and praised the work of the course in producing meaningful, frank, and open discussions on sensitive issues. He also mentioned the notable work done by the course members in their recent Crisis Management Exercise (CMX) stating that, “This unique NRCC group has succeeded and become a model of how to conduct partnerships and joint efforts in a spirit of a two-way cooperation.” In the end, the Commandant highlighted the main successes of the course: producing substantive dialogue, overcoming misconceptions and prejudices, and strengthening cooperation.
The graduation speaker, Deputy Chairman of the Military Committee, Lieutenant General Walter E. Gaskin (USMC), again highlighted the role of the NRCC in achieving mutual understanding in order to better face complex problems. General Gaskin emphasized that “What happens in other world regions affects us all.” And that “Cooperation is one of the essential pillars of our shared security. It is not a new idea, nor a choice. It is a necessity.” In specifically addressing the NRCC course members, General Gaskin stated that “You, as graduates of this course, are our best hope for facing the future and while that future holds many challenges, it equally presents many opportunities.” Lieutenant General Gaskin concluded his speech by reaffirming his belief that, “We should all work closely and actively to foster cooperation and partnership across borders, and build peace in a sustainable way.”
The graduation ceremony was attended by dignitaries and diplomatic representatives from a variety of nations including H.E. Mr. Abouyoub, Ambassador of Morocco to Italy, H.E. Sheikh Al Sabah, Ambassador of Kuwait to Italy, Mr. Ould Kebd, First Secretary of Mauritania to Italy, Mr. Khouri, Deputy Head of Mission of Jordan to Italy, Colonel Mahrous, Military Attaché of Egypt to Italy, Colonel Sharkey, Military Attaché of the United States to the Italy, and Mr. Al Mahmoud, Second Secretary of Qatar to Italy.
After the keynote address, the Commandant and the Keynote Speaker delivered the diplomas and passed on their good wishes to the Graduates.
This graduation concluded the 10-week course that focuses on the unique security challenges of the Middle East and North Africa. The NRCC’s aim is to link issues of concern to both MD and ICI nations and to NATO while developing mutual understanding among all the participants. This course has been especially significant due to the extraordinary events that have taken place throughout the broader Middle East. Also, this course has been the first in which there were two participants from Saudi Arabia, an Austrian, and two from the United States. Overall, 26 students from 16 different nations participated in the fifth NRCC.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Written by Miguel de Corral,
Research Fellow with the Middle East Faculty of the NRCC)
NATO Defense College 
