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Helen Terekhova
Visiting Brussels: NATO Headquarters [2] - 05.07.2025
Brussels… What thoughts does this word provoke? Perhaps, seafood, manneken Pis, absence of government and liberal way of life… But what if you remember the past and present of this global world? Yes, Brussels is home to the EU Headquarters, Benelux countries Secretariat and NATO HEADQUARTERS.NATO at a glance
On March, 17th-18th a delegation of Russian Essay Competition winners and Winter NATO Academy Participants had a visit to NATO HQ, Brussels. Young specialists in history, international relations and law, journalists and students had an opportunity to participate in briefing and discussion on the future of NATO-Russia relations, Missile Defense, NATO’s future involvement in Afghanistan and meet with NATO’s experts of various divisions hosting the event.
Introduction to NATO was followed by a briefing and discussion on NATO’s Current Political Agenda with Dr Petr Lunak, Deputy Head of Partnerships Section and Information and Information Officer Responsible for Russia, Public Diplomacy Division. The heated debate and questions asked by the Russian participants proved there were many ideas to discuss: NATO’s history like the Cold-War Alliance, lessons learnt in Bosnia; NATO’s present approaches to security threats, Afghanistan, anti-missile defense; NATO’s future goals of true strategic partnership with Russia, energy cooperation, comprehensive approach of working alongside other organizations and integrating variety of non-military ways.
Mr Gael Moullec, (Russia and Ukraine Relations Section, Political Affairs and Security Policy Division), Colonel Juergen Schwartz, (Branch Chief, Special Partnerships, Cooperation and Regional Security Division, International Military Staff), Mrs Nina Borgen Bakkevoll (Weapons of Mass Destruction Non-proliferation Centre, Emerging Security Challenges Division), Jonathan Hill (Operations Division), Mr Petr Chalupecky (Deputy Permanent Representative of the Czech Republic), Mr Michael Kelleher (Office of the Political Advisor, United States Mission) and Mr Nikolay Korchunov (Deputy Head of the Russian Mission to NATO) produced presentations and chaired the debate which once again proved NATO of the 21st century not to be the one after the Cold war. In the 1990’s many people wondered what the use of NATO was, it seemed it had nothing to do. But if you look at NATO today…it seems it has too much to do!
Security First
The delegation of Russia also visited SHAPE - the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, the central command of NATO military forces. Located in the city of Mons, it was first activated at the hotel Astoria, Paris in April 1951 and was the HQ of Allied Command Europe. In summer 1951 the HQ moved to its new locations in Rocquencourt, west of Paris, and in March 1967 SHAPE moved to Mons. The scope of SHAPE activity was extended to control operations not only in Europe, but worldwide in 2003 but it retained its traditional name.
Russian delegation at SHAPE © bordersoff$
The so-called SHAPE-village has an impact on the local society and community being a town with shops, posts, entertainment facilities and an international school with currently 11 national departments which serves the families, as all the 28 countries have representatives located in the HQ to work without delay. The international school at SHAPE is beneficial for the kids learning in the international environment and rewarding for the future, if they someday become their countries’ leaders.
International SHAPE school ad © bordersoff$
Briefing on SHAPE included a review on Allied Command Operations, the contribution of partnership countries and Military Cooperation topics followed by a brief tour of the territory. The flags outside the building arranged in a wedge are changed in turns every Sunday and only the Belgian one is always the root to the triangle because of the HQ location. The motto of SHAPE says "Vigilance is the Price of Liberty”, and SHAPE National Military Representatives say "Security is the first issue, and it’s a military goal”.
Vigilance is the Price of Liberty © bordersoff
Youth |21.03.2011 | Views: 2521
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