International Week in Kyiv – 11 Edition, Kyiv (Ukraine)

The 11th Kyiv Week, one of the most important outreach activities of the NATO Defense College (NDC), was inaugurated today at the Ukrainian National Defense University (UNDU).

The College delegation, composed of the NDC Commandant, NDC Dean, five Senior Officers and six Faculty Advisors, was warmly welcomed by the Commandant of UNDU, Lieutenant General Vasyl TELELYM.

After the welcome remarks delivered by both Commandants and by Mr. Dariusz GORCZYNSKY, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Polish Embassy to Kyiv, the audience of more than 400 students attending the Kyiv Week was briefed on NATO Defense College activities by Rear Admiral Svend-Erik ESTELLON, Director of the Academic Programme Policy Division at NDC.

The first day’s programme continued with a very interesting lecture on “The evolution of NATO - The New Strategic Concept”, delivered by Dr. Karl-Heinz KAMP, Director of the Research Division at NDC. This was followed by a lively question-and-answer period which reflected the audience’s keen interest in the topic.

Lieutenant General Wolf-Dieter LOESER addressed the Ukrainian media during a press conference, underlining the evolution of the NATO-Ukraine relationship and partnership from Ukraine’s original long-term aspiration to become a NATO Member State to the Ukrainian government’s subsequent preference for the status of non-aligned State cooperating with NATO. This change, which might at first sight seem a step back in relations between NATO and Ukraine, is actually better seen as the first development towards a well defined partnership.

In the next few days the military, diplomats, NGO representatives and academics attending the Kyiv Week will have the opportunity to follow outstanding lectures delivered by members of the Alliance’s leadership such as Ambassador Lawrence ROSSIN, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Operations, and by high-level politicians such as H.E. Ioan Mircea PASCU, former Romanian Defense Minister.

During committee work, guided and moderated by NDC Faculty Advisors, the students will gain detailed insight into NATO strategic-level subjects.

The Kyiv Week is designed to improve knowledge of NATO, its organization and working methods; to discuss the challenges facing the Atlantic Alliance and its partners in today’s security environment; to address some key current issues in the field of international security; and to demonstrate the importance of a strong partnership between Ukraine and NATO.

NATO's support for Senior Military Education in Ukraine was initiated on 28 January 2000, when Mr. Kuzmuk, the Ukrainian Defence Minister, met the then NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson, and they agreed to run an international course at the (at that time) Ukrainian National Defense Academy in Kyiv. The first "International Week" was held during the period 12-16 February 2001, and a similar course has since then been run in February every year, on each occasion involving more than 400 participants.