14 July 2005

Centres of Excellence provide advanced training News 20/07/2005 - ACT SACT, four nations sign agreement for Defence Against Terrorism Centre of Excellence 15/07/2005 - ACT ACT, Norway sign agreement for Centre of Excellence for Cold Weather Operations Background ACT - Centres of Excellence Links Centre of Excellence Defence Against Terrorism Two new Centres of Excellence, in Turkey and Norway, will offer NATO and partner countries advanced training in defence against terrorism and for winter operations. Agreements establishing a formal relationship between the two training centres and NATO’s Allied Command Transformation were signed on 14 July at the Command’s Headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. Teaching on terrorism, weathering winter The Defence Against Terrorism Centre, in Ankara, will offer advanced courses on a wide-range of terrorism-related topics, such as protection against hostage taking, defence against suicide bombing and countering cyber terrorism. “The centre represents a state-of-the-art knowledge and training centre for one of the Alliance 's highest priorities: combating terrorism,” said Edmund P. Giambastiani, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, at the signing ceremony. The Centre of Excellence for Cold Weather Operations, in Stavanger, will provide training and solutions for operations under winter conditions for all types of units. Developing key capabilities Centres of Excellence are nationally- or multinationally-funded training centres that work together with NATO’ Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia, US, to improve the Alliance’s capabilities in key areas. A third Centre, focusing on air power competence, was opened in Kalkar, Germany, earlier in the year.