29-30 Nov. 2004

Engaging with NGOs at NATO Multimedia 29/11/2004 - NATO "The evolution of NATO's crisis management operations: Experiences and lessons learnt" with David Lightburn, Folke Bernadotte Academy, Sweden (MP3/15393kb) 29/11/2004 - NATO NGO's meet with NATO Secretary General, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (MP3/3826kb) High resolution photos The benefits and challenges of NATO and NGOs working together in the framework of NATO's operations were discussed at a special conference for NGOs held at NATO Headquarters on 29 and 30 November. The event was organised by NATO's Public Diplomacy Division for NGOs and civil aid organizations active in the Balkans and in Afghanistan. Some 37 NGOs from 15 Allied countries participated in the discussion. During the two-day sessions, senior NATO officials, diplomats from Allied countries and NGO representatives assessed experiences in civil-military cooperation over the past years and discussed opportunities and challenges for enhanced cooperation in future crisis management operations. Becoming better at working together “What we realise is that we are not the only actor,” NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer emphasized in his remarks at the seminar, “Stabilization needs both military and civilian instruments”. David Lightburn, former NATO staff member and an expert on peacekeeping, explained how the Alliance’s attitude towards working with NGOs had changed from an initial reluctance on the part of the Alliance to take on civilian-related tasks to a formal policy that encourages civil-military cooperation in crisis regions. Today working with civilian international and non-governmental organizations is part and parcel of NATO’s operations. The seminar is part of the Alliance’s effort to reach out to the relevant NGO communities, underline NATO’s interest in partnership and cooperation, and improve the NGO community’s understanding of the nature of NATO’s operations.