e-Newsletter of the Greek Association for Atlantic and e-GAAEC European Cooperation APRIL 2009 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Chairman’s 1 welcome Chairman’s welcome NATO Summit in 2 Strasbourg/Kehl NATO Youth 3 Ladies and Gentlemen, Summit I would like to present the first G.A.A.E.C. newsletter in Antalya Confer- 4 2009. Even though it has been a long time since our last ence newsletter, year of 2008 was very productive, especially Greek-Turkish 5 for the activities of the young people. It’s a pleasure for Youth Initiative me to be able to share with you the news from G.A.A.E.C. Europe-Turkey 6 Forum Dear readers, this newsletter also gives me a great op- Atlantic Treaty 7 portunity to inform you about our annual programs Association and its aimed at young people: International Institute for Politi- NATO talk cal and Economical Studies (since 1996), Kernels of Our Future (since 2005) and Euro-Mediterranean Journalism Institute (since Eurodefence 8 2006). Also, after having initiated in 2007 one more important activity in the Meetings youth field – the Greek-Turkish dialogue of young students, the Greek youth Kernels of Our 9 delegation visited Istanbul in December 2008. Future Furthermore, the representatives of G.A.A.E.C. participated in numerous IIPES 10 international conferences and forums on variety of subjects from defence to eco- EMJI 11 nomics: EuroDefence meetings, Economic Forum in Krynica, Antalya Confer- Economic Forum 12 ence on Security and Cooperation, Energy conference in Hague, Jerusalem Con- in Krynica ference on Conflict Management and Transformation, and others. Jerusalem 13 Last but not least, I would like to invite the members of G.A.A.E.C. and Conference its friends to help us making this newsletter “a forum of discussions”. We are open to your contributions such as opinions, reports, interviews and photos. Energy Confer- 13 ence in Hague I wish you a pleasant reading, Special event with 14 Theodossis Georgiou S.Babst President of G.A.A.E.C. NATO Bucharest 15 Summit Former President of Atlantic Treaty Association EVS and Intern- 16 ship opportunities APRIL 2009 RECENT EVENTS 60 years of NATO: Summit in Strasbourg/Kehl The Strasbourg–Kehl Sum- ernment participating in the meeting issued Summit Dec- mit was held in Strasbourg, laration on Afganistan, where it was underlined, that Euro- France, and in Kehl and Ba- Atlantic security is closely tied to the stability and security den-Baden, Germany, on 3-4 of Afghanistan. April 2009. The venue of the NATO leaders expressed the aim to strengthen summit was chosen as a pow- cooperation with other international actors, including the erful symbol of Europe’s United Nations, European Union, Organization for Secu- post-World War II reconciliation. rity and Cooperation in Europe and African Union in the The summit marked the 60th anniversary of the Strasbourg/Kehl Summit Declaration. Leaders also recog- establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organiza- nized the importance of a stronger and more capable Euro- tion (NATO). Expected to be primarily a celebratory 60th pean defence, welcoming the EU’s efforts to strengthen its Anniversary event, the agenda still included a number of capabilities to address common security challenges. In the other important issues. same document NATO leaders also expressed their ap- Albania and Croatia, new members of NATO, preciation of the role of the Atlantic Treaty Association were welcomed by North Atlantic Council Secretary Gen- in fostering a better understanding of the Alliance and its eral Jaap de Hoop Scheffer at their first NATO Summit objectives among the publics. as members of Alliance: "Today we celebrate the 6oth Prime Minister of Greece, Mr. Kostas Kara- anniversary of the Washington Treaty. From twelve initial manlis, accompanied by the Foreign Minister, Ms. Dora members in 1949, the transatlantic family has grown to Bakoyannis, along with the Defense Minister Mr. Evan- 28. The presence of Albania and Croatia here today con- gelos Meimarakis, participated in the Summit. Speaking firms that NATO’s door remains open, and is testimony of at a press conference in Strasbourg the Prime Minister re- our commitment to a Europe whole and free". iterated Greece's solid support for further NATO enlarge- At the Summit of Strasbourg and Kehl, the 28 ment, on condition, how- NATO Heads of State and ever, that candidate- Government agreed unani- countries fully meet mem- mously to appoint Danish bership conditions set out Prime Minister Anders by NATO, especially with Fogh Rasmussen as respect to establishing and NATO's next Secretary maintaining good- General. Mr. Fogh Ras- neighbourly relations. Mr. mussen will formally take Karamanlis also said that up his duties on August 1, Greece welcomed the se- Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen with Mr. 2009, when the term of the lection of Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmus- Jaap de Hoop Scheffer current Secretary General, sen as the new NATO secretary general. He also ex- Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, expires. pressed his satisfaction with the decisions taken at the Security and stability of Afghanistan dominated NATO Summit in Strasbourg, as well as with his first the agenda of the Summit. The Heads of State and Gov- meeting with the US President Barack Obama. HISTORIC PERSPECTIVE: THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATO...IN STRASBOURG BY ATA, 1999 The 45th General Assembly of Atlantic Treaty Association in 1999 for the first time in history was held in a non-capital city, Strasbourg– the city symbolizing the unification of Europe, which in 2008 would be chosen to host the 60th Anniversary of NATO. The Gen- eral Assembly in Strasbourg was one of the biggest and most important assemblies ever, marked by the presence of the President of the French Republic of that time, Jacques Chirac. Throughout the 45th G.A. Mr. J. Chirac gave his historic speech about the foreign policy of France. The flag of NATO was flying in the building of the European Parliament for 3 days, for the first, and the last time in the history. It was mentioned as a remarkable event for the cooperation of NATO and European Union by the Secretary General on NATO of that time, Lord Robertson, in his inaugural speech. During the remarkable 45th General Assembly the unforgettable “Gutenberg” seminar took place for the first time, gathering over 350 young people from approxi- mately 50 countries. This pioneering event was the beginning of the Youth Atlantic Treaty Association and its future successful Summits. The hard work of the President of the Atlantic Council of France at the time, Mr. Jean-Antoine Giansily, as well the efforts of the Honorary President, Mr. Francois Moreau de Balasy should not be forgotten. The Atlantic Treaty Association played a very important role in the 50th Anniversary of NATO (1999) celebrations. The Bureau of ATA was present in all the ceremo- nies taking place in the Mellon Auditorium in Washington D.C. Furthermore, ATA organized one of the biggest NATO/ATA colloquium in Athens (March 1999) attended by 14 Ministers of Foreign Affairs. 2 APRIL 2009 RECENT EVENTS NATO Youth Summit in Strasbourg The fourth NATO Youth Summit was held on the panel discussion “The World in 2020: Defining the Fu- occasion of the 60th Anniversary NATO Summit meeting in ture Security Environment”, was honoured by Mr. Ber- Strasbourg/Kehl. 300 young professionals from the 28 nard-Henri Lévy, philosopher, writer and columnist, as NATO countries gathered in Strasbourg from April 1st to well as Mr. Claudio Cordone, Senior Director of Am- April 4th to discuss about “NATO in 2020: What Lies nesty International. The panel “A Changing Interna- Ahead”. NATO Youth Summit was organized by NATO's tional Landscape: What to Public Diplomacy Division, the Atlantic Treaty Association Expect from NATO?” fo- (ATA), the Office Franco-Allemand Pour La Jeunesse, cussed on the changing secu- France3 Alsace, and the Ecole National d’Administration rity environment and the new (ENA). role of Russia and Asian This year Greece was rep- countries in international af- resented by Ms. Ai- fairs. The third panel discus- katerini – Aliki Lout- sion, chaired by Dr. Stefanie zaki, graduate of the Ath- Babst, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Public Di- ens University of Eco- plomacy Strategy of NATO, concentrated on “The Young nomics and Business in Generation and NATO’s Communication Policy: Pub- the field of Business Ad- lic Opinion, Public Messaging and the Use of New ministration, former Pub- Technologies”. It was discussed whether international lic Relation Officer and organisations were ready to make their voices heard in the Ms. Loutzaki (in the right) with Mr. Radu former President of the globalised information environment. Bores (in the middle) from Romania , Ker- Youth of the Greek As- The highlight of the event was a speech by the nels Alumnus sociation for Atlantic & President of the United States of America, Mr. Barack European Cooperation Obama in Rhenus Sports Arena. In his speech Mr. Barack and nowadays, Councellor of the Vice Mayor of the Mu- Obama called for a new era of responsibility and empha- nicipality of Athens. sized that in the 21st century, security is more complex The participants of the Summit were welcomed by than the military power. Mr. Obama talked about the im- Mr. Jean-Francois Bureau, Assistant Secretary General portance of fighting climate change, new approach to en- for Public Diplomacy, NATO, who emphasized that “the ergy, aid to poor countries and making globalization bene- issues of peace, security and stability are precisely the ones ficial to everyone as means to ensure a secure and peaceful that concern everyone, in their everyday lives, and on world. He also commented on the relations between which their views and opinions count.”.