Summer School for Young Professionals 2010

Centre for European and North Atlantic Affairs (CENAA) in dates 26th June – 4th July organized the fifth international Summer School for Young Professionals 2010. More than thirty students of political sciences and international relations gathered in the Armed Forces Academy of General M.R.Štefánik in Liptovský Mikuláš, where they were received by Vice-Rector of the Armed Forces Academy, Col. Pavel Nečas, Ms. Susan Ball, Deputy Chief of the Mission, Representative of US Embassy in Slovakia and Radoslav Javorčík, Director of Security Policy Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the Summer School Slovak and international experts for security and defence policy provided the participants with interactive discussions and workshops. Through a video channel with NATO PDD the students had the opportunity to discuss and ask questions about NATO mission in Afghanistan with experts based in NATO in Brussels.

After 5 days the Summer School traditionally moved to Uzhorod in Ukraine, where Ukrainian experts briefed participants with foreign policy of this partner country and worrying aspects of NATO – Ukraine relations. On the way to Ukraine, students from V4 countries, Romania, Serbia, the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Azerbaijani, Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine also visited the Helicopter Wing in Prešov, one of three air bases of the Air Forces of the Slovak Republic.

The importance of the project, whose main aim is to prepare young professionals from partner countries in troubling regions for their future leadership positions in defence and security sector in their countries, is increasing, as negotiations over participating countries membership in NATO are processing further.

Summer School has been organized with financial support of NATO PDD, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, American Embassy to Slovakia and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.