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HIGHLIGHT
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New Academic Year, New Home and Newcomers
Like every year since 1995, as the summer winds down and the new academic year begins, the month of September marks a fresh start at the GCSP, filled with a busy and exciting line-up of events and training activities. The next few months, however, will be very special this year as a crucial milestone lies just around the corner: the move to GCSP's new home, La Maison de la Paix, in January 2014.
An exciting line-up of courses and events
On Tuesday, October 8th, the 28th edition of our flagship eight-month course - the International Training Course (ITC) in Security Policy - will kick off, with 30 participants hailing from 26 countries and more that 150 guest speakers. This past month, we have held a dozen training courses, expert seminars and public events in Geneva and abroad (Bishkek, Yerevan, Addis Ababa), in collaboration with our partners. The October-December stretch will be equally busy, with activities in Baku, Berlin, Sarajevo, Amman and, of course, Geneva.
Maison de la Paix
During the next few months, our staff will be busy preparing for the move to the Centre's new home, la Maison de la Paix (The House of Peace). As of January 2014, the new state-of-the-art premises will offer outstanding opportunities and will enable us to make "The GCSP Experience" even more unique and memorable for participants and guests.
Newcomers
Following the entry into function of our new Director, Ambassador Christian Dussey, in early August, we have recently welcomed new staff members Colonel Christian Bühlmann, Senior Programme Advisor, and Mr Peter Cunningham, Senior Programme Officer. Two new fellows have also recently joined the Centre: Ambassador Dr Sameh Aboul-Enein, Adjunct Professor at the American University in Cairo and Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister of Egypt for Disarmament, International Security and Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy; and Mr Eythan Sontag, from the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations (CSO) at the U.S. Department of State.
Clearly, we have our task cut out for the rest of 2013 and are ready, with your contribution, to bring 'The GCSP Experience' to a new level!
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NEWS
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For the first time, a mixed group of 24 young, influential leaders from Myanmar travelled abroad to attend a course to address and debate issues of direct concern to their country's current political transformation and democratisation process. Attending this course was for many the first opportunity to meet and converse with fellow country men and women working in different government institutions and civil and political organisations, as well as regions. >>More
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On 2 April 2013, the UN General Assembly adopted the landmark Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), regulating the international trade in conventional arms, from small arms to battle tanks, combat aircraft and warships. On 25 September 2013, the Geneva Forum and the GCSP announced the launch of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) Network. Based in Geneva, this informal network aims to coordinate activities related to the promotion of the Treaty and its implementation, in particular facilitating the work of the actors involved in applying the Treaty provisions. >>More | 
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EXPERTS' CORNER
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Dr Khalid Koser, Deputy Director and Academic Dean of the GCSP, was one of the guest speakers who took the floor at the TEDxGhent 2013 event on 22 June 2013, in the heart of the Belgian city. The video of his talk on "Why People Smuggling Pays" was recently realeased by the organisers. In his presentation, Dr Koser invites the audience to "view migrant smuggling as a business in which every single person is incentivised to make money." >>More
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GCSP Senior Advisor Marc Finaud writes about Syria and how and why the agreement negotiated in Geneva by the U.S. and Russia - aiming at the elimination of Syria's chemical weapons - can justifiably be hailed as historic. "Even if it does not put an immediate end to the devastating civil war in the country, it carries a strong potential for improving regional and international security, and consequently the fate of civilian populations." >>More
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ALUMNI CORNER
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ITC 27 Alumnus Malika Tukmadiyeva tells OSCE Academy about her GCSP ExperienceEach year, one OSCE Academy alumnus receives a European Scholarship for Central Asia for the Master of Advanced Studies in International and European Security carried out jointly by the GCSP and University of Geneva. In 2012-2013, the recipient was Ms Malika Tukmadiyeva, from Kazakhstan, a graduate of the OSCE Academy's MA in Politics and Security Programme. in their September 2013 Newsletter, Malika tells the OSCE Academy about her experience in Geneva (excerpts): "If my studies in the OSCE Academy were invaluable in terms of theoretical and academic experience, my study at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy was a true introduction to the thinking of practitioners and decision-makers. I believe it is a unique programme, the strength of which lies in an area most educational programs do not focus on - the integration of theory and practice. It was not only an opportunity to learn in the classroom from world renowned experts in the field of international security, but also a chance to learn from my fellow participants - highly competent high-class professionals, who proved themselves humble, noble people and responsive friends - people I could really look up to." >>Read the full testimonial >>See also: Testimonial by French Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Laurent Neumann, NISC 14 Alumnus
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 | | Ms Malika Tukmadiyeva receives ITC certificate, 7 June 2013 |
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COURSES & EVENTS
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The second edition of this one-week training module aims at equipping defence officials working in a multilateral environment with new skills in diplomacy and security policy. The course welcomes 31 participants from 22 African countries, as well as Mauritius, the Seychelles and the Spanish Embassy in Addis Ababa. >>More
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Registration for our Berlin event is now closed! Entitled "New Players and European Partnerships", the conference will bring together an audience of some 140 participants, including GCSP alumni as well as GCSP and BAKS (Bundesakademie für Sicherheitspolitik, Federal Academy for Security Policy) networks. 23 distinguished speakers will debate on the most relevant topics regarding Europe's security challenges and the future of Europe's strategic partnerships with new players. >>See full programme and conference details
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TESTIMONIAL
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LtCol Laurent Neumann, Alumnus, 14th New Issues in Security Course (NISC), 10 April-3 July 2013
"As a military pilot, following the 2013 NISC course was quite a change of scenery. Global security issues surely look different from a GSCP classroom than from an aircraft cockpit or an operation planning center.
The NISC indeed gave us a wide-angle lens, and as such, it challenged both my views on security matters and my education as a military strategist. It enriched my understanding of the world and its fragile equilibrium. It shed some light on the complex relations between states and non-state actors, and their role on human security.
But the true value of the NISC lies in its ability to stimulate original and creative ways of thinking. The correct balance between passive learning and active participation in a wide range of exercises makes the three-month course both very effective and challenging.
One of the highlights was the opportunity to be part of the 10th edition of the International Security Forum (ISF), alongside more than 700 other top-level diplomats, militaries, and academics.
But the quality of this education could not come to life without the involvement, the kindness, and the effectiveness of the GCSP staff: they were able to bring the most knowledgeable specialists on security matters and also to provide an effective learning environment for the participants. I was very impressed by the academic level of the faculty, the guest speakers, but also of the class participants.
Looking back, the very condensed three-month NISC course enriched me a lot. And even if it is always difficult to assess the long-term benefit of such an experience, I have no doubt that the NISC was a life changer. It was both an honour and unique opportunity: an honour to meet exceptional people and an opportunity to become a better security actor. Something that, sadly, the world needs more and more..."
LtCol Laurent Neumann
Lieutenant Colonel in the French Air Force
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 | | LtCol Neumann receives NISC certificate, 3 July 2013 |
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