Serbian General Staff Course in Italy
From the 4th to the 8th of June 2012, the 50 participants of the 55th General Staff Course of the Serbian Armed Forces participated in a study trip organized by the Atlantic Council of Serbia and Italian Atlantic Committee, with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Norway in Belgrade and in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Serbia. The Atlantic Treaty Association supports these types of joint initiatives, as they demonstrate the important role that Atlantic Councils plays for regional cooperation, as well as their contribution in bridging the gap between the Atlantic Alliance and their people.
During the study trip, the delegation led by the State Secretary of the MoD, Mr. Igor Jovičić visited Italian Center for High Defense Studies, NATO Defense College, Italian Joint Operational Command HQ in Rome and Allied Joint force Command in Naples. During the program, students of the 55th generation of the GSC had the opportunity to visit air force base of Pratica di Mare and MBDA Missile Systems.
Within the first day of this Study trip, the participants visited the Italian Center for High Defense Studies. Visit to this institution started with a welcome address by Lt.Gen. Orazio Panato – president of this Center. After the welcome addresses from the State Secretary Mr. Igor Jovičić, professor Fabrizio Luciolli – Secretary General of the Italian Atlantic Committee, and Mr. Giuseppe Belardetti – Executive director and Program manager of the Atlantic Treaty Association, the participants discussed about the Italian Contribution to Euro-Atlantic Stability with Couns. Fabrizio Colaceci – Head of the NATO Desk at the Italian MFA and about NATO and Western Balkans with Lt. Gen. Giovanni Marizza.
During the dinner debate, in his welcome remarks Hon.Prof. Enrico La Loggia – president of the IAC and member of Italian Parliament, welcomed the participants to the Republic of Italy. The participants had the opportunity to discuss about the Italy and western Balkans with V.Admiral Ferdinando Sanfelice di Monteforte – president of the Military Committee of the IAC.
On the second day of the study trip, the delegation visited the NATO Defense College where they were welcomed by the Lt. Gen. Arne Bard Dalhaug – commandant of the NDC. During the visit, the participants were also addressed by Lt. Col. Mario Masdea – Chief of the NDC Public Affairs Office and Dr. Karl-Heinz Kamp – Director of the NDC Research Division. After the visit to the NDC the group visited the Air force base of Pratica di Mare.
Wednesday was the day reserved for the visit to the Italian Joint operational command HQ, where the delegation was welcomed by Lt. Gen. Marco Bertolini – commandant of this institution, who introduced our participants to the organization and work within JOC and told them more about Italian Contribution to peacekeeping operations. During this visit they also discussed about the Carabinieri contribution to Peacekeeping operations with Col. Massimo Mennitti – Head of the Plans and Military Police Office at Carabinieri Command HQ.
On the last day of the study trip program, the participants visited Allied Joint Force Command – Naples where they were welcomed by the Lt. Gen. Marquis Hainse – deputy commandant of JFC Naples. During this visit, our participants discussed more about NATO Operations and the role of JFC Naples and about NATO Strategic Concept – Reform and transformation of Commands and Military Capacities with their hosts from this institution.
During the visits to the NATO Defense College, Allied Joint Force Command Naples HQ, Italian Joint Operation Command HQ, and Center for High Defense Studies the participants gained broader knowledge about the work of their colleagues in these institutions, mechanisms and modalities within the decision making process from strategic to operational level which are ensuring the implementation and execution of tasks, as well as monitoring and control during the process.
We believe that the joint work within this project between The Atlantic Council of Serbia and Italian Atlantic Committee confirmed the strength and idea of the Atlantic Treaty Association, as well as the necessity of mutual cooperation among its members in achieving the common goals.
