15:27 NISA (NATO International School of Azerbaijan) Winter session, 10- 15 December 2007 | |
“Peace operations in the Euro-Atlantic Area: Challenges and perspectives” NISA (NATO International School of Azerbaijan) Winter session, 10- 15 December 2007 Baku, Azerbaijan Dates and venue
The NISA Winter Session will be held on December 10-15, 2007 in Baku, Azerbaijan. December 9 and 16 are the dates of arrival and departure. Participants will be accommodated in the Hotel “Khazri” where the Session will take place. On December 13, participants will have a social program in Baku and surroundings. Previous sessions
1. July, 2003- NATO Summer School “ Leaders of the 21st century”; 2. July, 2004- NATO Summer School on “ Changing NATO in the changing World”; 3. June, 2005- NATO International School in Azerbaijan (NISA) Summer Session on “the Concept of Three Seas- Caspian, Black and Mediterranean”; 4. Dec 2005- Jan 2006- NISA Winter Session on “ Energy security in the Euro-Atlantic area”; 5. July, 2006-NISA Summer Session on “Perspectives of Euro-Atlantic integration in the region of Three Seas. 6. December 2006, NISA Winter session on “Enhancing the security in the area of Three Seas: how to build a comprehensive approach” 7. July, 2007, NISA Summer session on “Security challenges and Euro-Atlantic Partnership: Energy security, conflicts, terrorism and asymmetrical threats” Concept of the event
“Peace is the only battle worth waging”. Human civilization has been witnessing countless wars aimed at winning this battle. In the course of history, peace process or peacekeeping to use the modern term, evolved so enormously that it changed its forms and became more complex. The complexity of the peace process is obvious. Its scope has been widened enough to combine all necessary aspects- political, military, economical or social thus pushing it to high place on international agenda. Not accidentally, state and non-state actors are more engaged in peace process in view of internationalization of most intra-state conflicts along with inter-state ones. Peacekeeping is no longer a business only military can deal with, but it’s more multi-dimensional to respond to current security challenges. Currently, more civilian components are involved in the field and their interaction with military is not always a success story, sometimes resulting in duplication of efforts. Difference in organizational cultures, unwillingness to share information or lack of familiarity- these are a few factors the deficiencies arise from. The latter is also a part of the ongoing debate about when and for how long the military forces have to be involved in the peace process. Each element of the peace process is applicable to certain phase such as preventing tensions to escalate into conflicts or enforcing peace. All these phases are based on certain legal frameworks and guiding principles. Undoubtedly, the peace process or operation requires legitimacy and continuous support of international community. It’s important that all external contributing actors- nations or organizations demonstrate clear and sustainable commitment to the process being impartial and objective. Along with the United Nations, which has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, other international and regional organizations have their policy on peacekeeping. The OSCE has developed a set of mechanism on early warning, conflict prevention and crisis management, in particular in the field of preventive diplomacy, while NATO declared to be ready for carrying out “on a case-by-case basis in accordance with its own procedures, peacekeeping and other operations”. NATO was involved in several peacekeeping and peace-support operations in and beyond its traditional area of responsibility since the Cold War ended. Its engagement in Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan and Pakistan operations can be assessed as valuable contribution to the international peace and security. Therefore, being among key security issues of the Euro-Atlantic area peacekeeping needs to be discussed in-depth. This important need stimulates NATO International School of Azerbaijan to dedicate its winter session to the issue of “Peace operations in the Euro-Atlantic Area: challenges and perspectives”. Issues to be discussed Issues to be discussed: · Peace and war: theoretical approach · Forms of peace operations · Principles and legal aspects of peace operations · Implications of peace operations · Challenges to peace operations · Human rights issues in peace operations · Civil-military relations · Role of media and NGOs · Conflict management and negotiations · Security sector reform in post-conflict societies · Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration · Reconstruction and stabilization · Role of international organizations in peace operations · NATO policy on peacekeeping · NATO’s crisis management tools · NATO operations in Kosovo and Afghanistan Organizer and Partners NISA is non-governmental organization that functions as research, education and information centre on Euro-Atlantic security and integration course. It has been officially registered in March 2007. The work on providing the School with premises and staff is underway. The Government of Azerbaijan is committed to cover half of the NISA expenses and counts on further assistance by NATO and other partners. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan has always welcomed all projects serving to enhancement of public understanding and knowledge about NATO and Euro-Atlantic security issues. Ministry sees all these activities as solid contribution of civil society to developing Azerbaijan-NATO cooperation. That is the reason MFA has been supporting by all means the holding of the NISA sessions. Public Diplomacy Division of NATO has rendered enormous support for initiatives launched by the Azerbaijani NGOs. Since 2003 several sessions took place thanks to the kind assistance from NATO PDD. There is a strong belief that PDD assistance to this winter session will be a valuable contribution to the developing Azerbaijan-NATO cooperation on public diplomacy. Methodology / Structure NISA Winter Session will be rich in program with plenary sessions, working groups, practical site visits, round table and simulation game. Participants will be able to raise critical questions related to themes of the session during the meetings with invited experts and key governmental officials. The social program, including the intercultural evening will be the unforgettable part of the program. Participants are kindly asked to contribute to this evening with their traditional clothes, music, dances, drinks and sweets. Participants’ Profile Participants can be young politicians, young researchers and scientists working on security and related issues and mass-media representatives. Participants should be fluent in English, aged between 20 and 35 and Nationals of NATO member states, Partnership for Peace countries, Mediterranean Dialogue, Istanbul Cooperation Initiative countries and Afghanistan. Participants of the previous NISA sessions may participate only upon the invitation of the NISA. Financial procedures NISA will provide scholarships to cover the expenses related to the local transportation, accommodation, meals as well as the social program during the event dates. Limited funds are also available to provide reimbursement of the travel expenses of some qualified participants. There is no participation fee. The financial assistance requests for travel expenses will be considered individually. Application procedures | |
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