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| Updated: 06-Dec-2001 | Week of 19-25 November 2001 |
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International seminar on security in the Mediterranean
The seminar worked from a broad definition of security, extending beyond solely military considerations and therefore highlighted the various aspects of security in the region, including the concern arising from the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and their means of delivery. Issues with a direct impact on populations such as uncontrolled migration, economic underdevelopment, environmental degradation and competition for access to vital resources (water, food, and energy) were also addressed, as well as efforts to develop regional co-operation, such as the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean area of economic development by the European Union. The seminar also focused on NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue, with a keynote address given by the NATO Deputy Secretary-General, Ambassador Alessandro Minuto Rizzo. Morocco gave an assessment of its current experience in supporting NATO-led operations in the Balkans. It concluded that, from this experience, NATO could consider ways to upgrade the practical dimension of the Mediterranean Dialogue. In this connection, several speakers proposed practical avenues to be explored for a better North-South co-operation, for instance in the area of disaster relief and maritime co-operation in the military and civilian fields. The seminar was attended by 76 officials -of which 33 came from Mediterranean countries- and was co-sponsored by Le Centre d'Etudes Strategiques de l'Universite Mohamed V, Rabat (Morocco), with the participation of the Italian Higher Defence Studies Institute. The NATO Defense College will publish the proceedings of this year's seminar; Algeria has offered to co-sponsor the 2003 Seminar. Additional information:
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