NATO HQ 25 Nov. 2003

Video interview with Deniz Yüksel-Beten, Head of the Threats and Challenges Section NATO's Public Diplomacy Division Video interview Q: You're the head of the new Threats and Challenges Section in NATO's Public Diplomacy Division. Thank you for joining us today to talk about what you're section does and your next projects. Could you start by telling us what it is exactly that your section does? And what are these new threats and challenges that you're looking at. Deniz Yüksel-Beten: Thank you for this question. This section is a new section which has been created recently, this year, after the restructuring of NATO. And we are looking into several aspect of the security issues, such as the security-related civil science and technology, where we're addressing issues like bulk explosives, what are the scientific and technological developments in that area, which can be shared among the Allies, but also with the partner countries. We're also looking on the social sciences with the aspects of terrorism, such as the social and psychological impact of terrorist activity on societies. And we also have a separate committee which looks on the different issues such as non-traditional threats to security and some examples in that area are food chain security, where we have a long-term study, and also security of narrow waterways, where we look at the different security aspects of the problem and we exchange views and provide the forum for the NATO and partner countries to look forward to find solutions to their problems in these security-related areas. Q: You mentioned quite a wide list of areas. Could you give us examples of how you go about addressing these issues, or bringing NATO and partner countries together. What are some specific projects that you are looking at now? Deniz Yüksel-Beten: At present we are preparing for the new workshop under the Public Diplomacy Division, which will be the desertification security issue. This workshop will take place in Valencia, Spain, on the 2nd and 5th of December, this year, and we will be addressing issues regarding security with the decision-makers' perspectives, but also politicians and the scientific community. So the main objective of this workshop is to bring together the different stakeholders in the desertification issue, and to give it a broader aspect, including the security aspect. And we are looking forward to probably having other activities to follow on after this workshop. Q: So desertification is actually perceived at NATO as a security issue, as something that NATO should be addressing? Deniz Yüksel-Beten: The desertification is, of course, looking upon as... by many other international organizations, including the United Nations Desertification Committee, which fights desertification of the different United Nations countries. But from NATO's perspective we are looking at what the impact would be on the security. And this is also a forum to bring together exactly like I mentioned earlier, the decision makers, the scientific community and also those who are involved nationally and internationally on this issue to find the common ground to look into solutions which can be shared. Q: And you mentioned bringing stakeholders together, NATO and partner countries. How many countries will be represented at this workshop? Deniz Yüksel-Beten: We expected at this workshop there will be all the Mediterranean Dialogue countries, who will be sending representatives, and NATO has a Mediterranean Dialogue program with seven Mediterranean Dialogue countries. And all will be represented at this meeting. We have out of the 19 NATO countries we expect at least 14 which will be represented. And among the 26 partner countries there will be at least 20 who will be present. So there will be quite a large number of countries looking at this issue as a security problem, and all who share a desertification problem in their countries would have the opportunity to address the solutions and to try to work together in the future to break the ice on this issue. Q: And you said that this is a new section and the beginning of a series of initiatives. Could you give us a peek in the future as to what you're planning next? Deniz Yüksel-Beten: In the division we have mainly in the new Threats and Challenges Section, some ideas about how we should be looking with a broader view on planning forward thinking views on different threats which can, of course, be addressed through our networks in NATO countries, but also in partner countries. And we would like to, of course, including the Mediterranean Dialogue countries in these discussions. So we will be looking into some specific areas and topics which are under discussion at the moment to find common ground for interests among the nations and their experts to provide them the forum to be able to come up with solutions to the common problems they have. In that respect we are organizing several workshops, like the cybernetic war and we are also looking into other issues in the committee on the challenge of modern society on effective risk response strategies. And we're looking at case studies, like the anthrax problem which was raised in the United States some time ago, and how we can build resilience and how to avoid panic in the society. So these are some areas that we're looking into lessons learned and how in the future these problems, if ever occur again, how the nations should address these problems.