NATO MULTIMEDIA ACCOUNT

Access NATO’s broadcast-quality video content free of charge

Register

Create an account

Create an account

Check your inbox and enter verification code

We have sent a verification code to your email address. . Enter the code to verify your account. This code will expire in 30 minutes.
Verification code

Didn't receive a code? Send new Code

You have successfully created your account

From now on you can download videos from our website

Subscribe to our newsletter

If you would also like to subscribe to the newsletter and receive our latest updates, click on the button below.

Reset password

Enter the email address you registered with and we will send you a code to reset your password.

Log in or Create an account
Reset password
Check your inbox and enter verification code
We have sent a verification code to your email address. Enter the code to verify your account. This code will expire in 30 minutes.
Verification code

Didn't receive a code? Send new Code

Create a new password

The password must be at least 12 characters long, no spaces, include upper/lowercase letters, numbers and symbols.

Your password has been updated

Click the button to return to the page you were on and log in with your new password.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Friends,

It is great to be here. As NATO Secretary General, I have a pretty busy schedule, including here in Slovenia. But I have made it a rule that, whenever my calendar permits, I will try to meet with university audiences. Because I sincerely believe that meetings with the so-called “successor generation” are critically important in building and sustaining a true security community.

This event here today is truly special. You have demonstrated your interest in international security and NATO in perhaps the strongest way possible: by simulating the “real” Atlantic Alliance.

Simulating NATO certainly isn’t easy. After all, you have had to re-create an Alliance:

  • that brings together 26 nations, from two continents – nations that range from the United States, with the world’s most powerful military forces, to Iceland, a country with no military forces at all;
  • an Alliance that acts only on the basis of consensus, so that no country, however big or small, can be marginalised by others;
  • an Alliance that now maintains relationships with 20 Partners in Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia; 7 partners in Northern Africa and the Middle East; and 4 partners in the Gulf region; and that is currently looking at ways to build closer ties with countries even further a field, such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea;
  • and last but not least, you had to simulate an organisation that is conducting some very demanding operations and missions on three continents – a job that requires the particular attention and leadership of the NATO Defence Ministers who are gathered here today and tomorrow.

So now to the key question: Did you manage? Does your Model NATO correspond to reality? Of, course, I could not be part of your proceedings, but judging from your conclusions and recommendations, I can only say: mission accomplished. Congratulations.

What you say about Afghanistan, the NATO Response Force, the need for Allied solidarity and other issues shows a very good understanding of the challenges before us.

I am very heartened by all the work that you have done. To me, your “Model NATO” clearly shows that not only is there a successor generation, but that it is also a very engaged one. And I hope that for you, it has become even clearer that our Atlantic Alliance is a most valuable instrument for protecting and promoting our common values and security interests.

Of course, I am now all the more curious to see if the “real” NATO Defence Ministers will do as well as you have done. In a few minutes, when our Defence Ministerial begins, I will have the opportunity to find out.