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Le GCSP présenté dans Notre Armée de Milice (NAM), juin 2018, p. 17

 

Au cœur de la «Genève internationale», des cadres de l’armée suisse côtoient des homologues étrangers. Se retrouvant dans une «Maison de la Paix», les uns et autres échangent leurs points de vue. Directeur du programme de perspectives régionales, le colonel EMG Christian Bühlmann soutient que de telles rencontres contribuent à «la sécurité par la coopération».

 (voir: l’ouvrage intitulé «Sicherheit – die Schweiz in einer unsicheren Welt», article de Christian Bühlmann, «La contribution du GCSP au rayonnement international de l’armée suisse», Berne, Stämpfli, 2017, pp. 181-185, accessible sous https://bcn.li/s/2017).

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Nam2018_05_P17.pdf

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[REPOST – gcsp] Executive Breakfast Discussion: Current Dynamics of the Geneva International Discussions, with H.E. Mr David Dondua

The event, held under Chatham House rule led to constructive and thought-provoking discussions on a wide range of topics related to conflict resolution in Georgia, the challenges that this process is facing, and possible ways forward. Following the crisis in and around Ukraine and the war in Syria, the international attention has been drawn away from this region. Thus the discussion on two important lessons: (1) the importance of the GID, which provides the only discussion forum between the participating parties, and (2) the urgent need to elevate the conflict between Russia and Georgia on the international agenda.
Around twenty participants from several Geneva-based Missions, including five Permanent Representatives, were present, and engaged actively in the discussion.

Source: gcsp.ch

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[REPOST] Visit of the Director-General of the Research Institute of KNDU (South Korea) in GCSP on 25 May

The discussions addressed the issues of denuclearization and build-up of a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, against the background of renew uncertainties regarding the holding of a Summit meeting between the two leaders, Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un, planned in June in Singapore, which could pave the way to a negotiated solution of the nuclear issue and a lasting peace over the Korean Peninsula.

Among various issues, the participants examined the respective roles and interests of the regional powers, the significance and meaning of the North Korean peace initiative, and the merits and limits of the various strategies aimed at solving the nuclear issue and advancing peace on the Korean Peninsula. The participants recognized the importance of the current diplomatic developments and the value of the efforts by the South Korean leadership and President Moon to facilitate dialogue and understanding between the DPRK and the US.

This visit takes place in the framework of the GCSP policy of promoting dialogue on the Korean Peninsula.

Source: GCSP

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[REPOST] Confidence Building Measures Seminar between GCSP and the Institute for Disarmament and Peace from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, DPRK

It was held in the context of the current opening dynamic between the DPRK, the US and the Republic of Korea. This seminar allowed the participants to better understand the different perspectives and to clarify possible outcomes. In an informal and open setting, this track 1.5 meeting, supported by MFAs from both sides, was very successful. The meeting offered Switzerland the opportunity to reassert its support for a peaceful diplomatic process in the region. All participants favour the continuation and consolidation of the CBM process in close future.

 

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[REPOST – gcsp.ch] GCSP’s 22nd European Security Course (ESC) successfully closes

The participants originated from ministries of foreign affairs, defence, interior and civil society from countries in wider Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, South and East Asia with Sri Lanka and Botswana represented for the first time.

The ceremony included remarks by GCSP Director Ambassador Christian Dussey, the Course Director Ms Anna Brach and statements by the course spokespersons.

The ESC is designed to deepen the participants’ understanding of the security policy challenges relative to Europe. The course examines European security within a regional and global context thus better assessing the interconnectedness of transnational threats and responses. The ESC places equal importance on the study of substantive issues, skills enhancement and the development of a community of security policy professionals among the participants.

We wish the graduates of the 22nd ESC 2018 continued success in their future endeavours, and look forward to our continued relationship with them through the GCSP Alumni Network and events.

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La section romande de la société romande des officiers de la logistique a tenu son assemblée générale au GCSP

La SSOLOG, section romande, rassemble dans un cadre convivial des officiers de milice, des officiers de carrière ainsi que d’anciens officiers. Association technique forte de plus de 350 membres, elle vise à perfectionner la formation militaire de ses membres, à les informer sur la politique de sécurité et à défendre leurs intérêts ainsi que ceux de l’armée de milice. Substrat de la société, la camaraderie permet de dépasser les différences de générations, de grades ou d’origines cantonales.

Crédits des images : photo 1 : GCSP ; Autres : T. Delapierre, SSOLOG

Le président sortant, le lieutenant-colonel EMG Jean-Baptiste Thalmann, a ouvert l’assemblée en saluant les nombreux membres. Le colonel Christian Bühlmann a souhaité la bienvenue et présenté le GCSP aux participants, intéressés et impressionnés par le cadre.

Le major EMG Bastien Wanner, bien connu au GCSP puisqu’il fut lauréat du premier Cyber 9/12 Student Challenge en 2015, fut le second orateur. Il est exprimé avec compétence sur les mesures actives de cyberdéfense dans le cadre de la protection des infrastructures critiques. Après avoir présidé la partie officielle de l’assemblée générale, le lieutenant-colonel Thalmann a transmis les rênes de la société au nouveau président élu, le lieutenant-colonel EMG Guy Strickler.

Le commandant de corps Rebord a finalement présenté son appréciation de la situation actuelle de l’armée, en mettant l’accent sur les chances et les défis qui se posent à cette institution.

A l’issue de la partie officielle, les participants ont partagé un cocktail dînatoire dans la bibliothèque du GCSP. Plusieurs d’entre eux ont manifesté un intérêt pour les activités du centre et se sont fait forts d’y retourner pour suivre un cours ou une conférence.

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[REPOST] La 72ème réunion des entrepreneurs genevois au GCSP autour du thème « Situation politico-économique des riverains de la mer Noire et perceptions russes »

French 2 ng responsive full

Le Conseiller d’Etat M. Pierre Maudet a souligné les efforts du GCSP au sein de la communauté internationale. Il a notamment abordé les menaces sécuritaires actuelles à Genève, en soulignant les futurs défis à venir dans les domaines de la cyber sécurité et de la protection des données. Il a notamment mentionné sa future rencontre avec le Coordinateur européen de la lutte contre le terrorisme, M. Gilles de Kerchove, présent à Genève ce soir-là.

French 3 ng responsive full

Notre experte et cheffe adjointe du programme Regional Perspectives, Mme Alexandra Matas a présenté les tendances géopolitiques actuelles autour de la mer Noire d’un point de vue russe. Une séance de questions-réponses interactive a été modérée par le rédacteur en chef du journal Le Monde économique, M. Thierry Dime. L’approche unique de ce thème a soulevé des réflexions critiques parmi l’audience fortement intéressée par le sujet.

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[REPOST] GCSP Welcomes Diplomats from Iraq

The course covers different issues including:

  • The role, rights, and obligations of the international community
  • Migration: opportunities and security challenges
  • International migration law
  • Refugee law
  • Comparing federal and decentralized systems
  • Swiss federalism
  • Threats to human security
  • Good governance
  • The role of the judicial, executive and legislative powers
  • National dialogue, political thought and counter-narrative
  • Gender and Security
  • The role of civil society

I am impressed by the knowledge and the expertise of our Iraqi guests. During classes, they ask insightful questions, challenge the lecturers and connect the new knowledge with their previous experience. I appreciated working with them and look forward to seeing how they will contribute to foster peace, stability and security in their country.
Colonel Christian Bühlmann, Head of the Regional Perspectives Programme

The two highlights of the week for participants include a presentation on the ‘Introduction to Switzerland’ by Colonel Christian Bühlmann, and the visit of Palais Eynard. ‘Introduction to Switzerland’, presented the diplomats with Swiss food and drink products following an interactive session to learn more about Swiss culture and the history of federalism in the country.

Colonel Christian Bühlmann, Head of Regional Perspectives Programme, reflected, ‘I am impressed by the knowledge and the expertise of our Iraqi guests. During classes, they ask insightful questions, challenge the lecturers and connect the new knowledge with their previous experience. I appreciated working with them and look forward to seeing how they will contribute to foster peace, stability and security in their country.’

During the Palais Eynard visit, the course participants learned about the city of Geneva through a presentation by M. Steve Bernard, Head of the Service of External Relations. The participants also had the opportunity to meet Geneva’s Mayor Pagani and ask him questions about good governance in Geneva.

 

 

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[REPOST] Second Alumni Reception in Colombo

In spite of the evening traffic around Colombo, fifteen former GCSP participants gathered at picturesque Mount Lavinia, overlooking the lights of the capital. Alumni from the first defence attaché course in Sri Lanka met colleagues who attended classes in Switzerland. Everyone described the Centre’s education as a very positive experience. Many emphasized that they have gotten more skilled in understanding global challenges. “My training at the GCSP taught me how to think strategically, at a higher level”, summarized a Sri Lankan military officer.

The alumni came from different Sri Lankan ministries, and NGOs. A couple of diplomats, among them a head of mission, as well as defence attachés, offered an external perspective. Colonel (GS) Christian Bühlmann, Head of the Regional Perspectives Programme, Mr Thierry Randon, Senior Programme Officer, as well as Colonel (GS, retd) André Zumstein, Course Director for the Second Defence Attaché Course in Colombo, represented the GCSP.

Reposted from GCSP website

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Contribution à « Sicherheit – Die Schweiz in einer unsicheren Welt »

J’ai contribué à l’ouvrage Sicherheit – Die Schweiz in einer unsicheren Welt édité par Hans-Christof Schregenberger, Thomas Sprecher, Heinz Spross et Robert Zingg. Mon article, intitulé « La contribution du GCSP au rayonnement international de l’armée suisse », traite de l’apport du GCSP au «soft power» suisse. Je montre comment les militaires suisses y sont formés et par quels apports le centre contribue à l’impact international de l’armée.

Continue reading →

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[REPOST] Workshop on Cooperation Prospects in Institutional Reform and Restoring Stability in Syria

The workshop brought together 35 experts, researchers and officials from the US, Russia, Germany, the UK, France, Australia, Switzerland, and Syria. The participants gathered for two days to exchange views on stability in post-war Syria.

The vibrant discussions focused on the place of Syria in the West-Russia global power contest; institutional reforms within the political transition; prospects of cooperation on reconstruction; de-radicalization and counter-terrorism; and disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR).

The workshop is part of the Syria and Global Security project, jointly run by the GCSP and the Omran Centre for Strategic Studies. It is an initiative to offer a platform for collective informed discussions on Syria that eventually could build bridges between experts and researchers in order to bring peace and security to Syria, and region.

 

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[REPOST] Swiss professional officers at the GCSP and Brussels gather for one-week course on international security

From 25 to 29 September 2017, the GCSP welcomed a group of Brigadier Generals and Colonels superior and general Swiss military officers in Geneva and Brussels. This module was organised in collaboration with Mission of Switzerland to NATO, the Embassy of Switzerland to EU, the embassy of Switzerland to the Kingdom of Belgium, and with the efficient support from the Belgian Royal Higher Institute for Defence at the Royal Military Academy in Brussels.

The participants discussed the Swiss Armed Forces International Relations and its multilateral and bilateral instruments. In Brussels, they were briefed on the Swiss relationships with NATO, on NATO HQ and SHAPE activities, on the EU Security and Defence Policy, and on the current Belgian Defence Policy and Capability developments. The lecturers were challenged by the participants in critical, yet fair and sensible, question and answer phases.

Among many high-quality speakers, the participants had the honour and the pleasure to hear and interact with the Director General of the EU Military Staff, Lieutenant General Esa Pulkkinen. An alumnus of the GCSP’s 10th International Training Course (ITC, the precursor of the Leadership in International Security Course – LISC), General Pulkkinen highlighted the importance of the GCSP training for his international Career.

Under the supervision of Director MILAK, Brigadier General Peter C. Stocker, the participants will continue their training in Birmensdorf, Kriens, and Berne.

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[REPOST] Semaine de la démocratie : ‘Future leaders’ débattent au GCSP

 

La semaine de la démocratie « vise à célébrer la démocratie en rendant ses institutions et son fonctionnement plus proches encore des habitant-e-s de ce canton. De manière générale, elle crée des moments de réflexions et d’échanges entre les institutions politiques genevoises et les citoyens-ne-s, avec la perspective de renouveler et d’élargir la participation démocratique. »

Le 20 septembre, le GCSP a organisé un débat autour de la motion « La sécurité des États autoritaires est meilleure que celle des États démocratiques ». 24 écoliers secondaires ont participé activement à ce débat. Le directeur du programme de perspectives régionales, le colonel EMG Christian Bühlmann, a présenté le centre et expliqué les aspects fondamentaux de la discussion. Madame Alexandra Matas, responsable du cluster « gouvernance effective », a introduit la question et mené le débat. Le Dr Jean-Marc Rickli, responsable du cluster Risque global et résilience, ainsi que Monsieur Tobias Vestner, responsable du cluster Sécurité et Droit, ont présenté chacun les arguments pour et contre la motion. Les participants ont eu la possibilité de questionner les arguments des conférenciers et d’échanger leurs points de vue sur les questions du droit international, de la séparation des pouvoirs ainsi que sur les conditions économiques et sécuritaires dans les régimes démocratiques et autoritaires.

Au vote final, la majorité des participants est confiante que « la sécurité des États démocratiques  est meilleure que celle des États autoritaires.» 

 

Liens externes

Site de la semaine de la démocratie


BCN-Semaine_de_la_democratie-Introduction.pdf
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[REPOST] Chiefs of the Armed Forces of Germany, Austria and Switzerland visit the GCSP

On this occasion, GCSP Director Ambassador Christian Dussey, Ms Victoria Walker from DCAF, as well as Mr Pascal Rapillard and Lt Col Lobert from GICHD presented their respective centres. They answered questions about ongoing activities, current challenges and future developments. 

The meeting was held against the background of a longstanding military cooperation and exchange between Austria, Germany and Switzerland, which is also reflected in their common interest and active support of the GCSP, GICHD and DCAF.

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