52nd General Assembly of the Atlantic Treaty Association | Greek Association for Atlantic & European Cooperation (G.A.A.E.C.)

The 52^nd General Assembly of the Atlantic Treaty Association

Athens, December 5 - 10, 2006



Only some days after the Riga Summit, the Greek Association for Atlantic and European Cooperation hosted the 52^nd General Assembly of the Atlantic Treaty Association (A.T.A.) in Athens, on December 5-10, 2006. The key topic of discussion was “NATO’s Challenges in the 21^st Century” and was analyzed in four different sessions (Political, Military, Economic, Educational), each discussing NATO’s Challenges in the contemporary era from various angles and offering different yet, no diverse remarks. The President of GAAEC Mr. Theodossis Georgiou chaired the General Assembly, together with the President of ATA, Amb. Robert Hunter. Government and NATO authorities together with delegates from more than 40 national Atlantic Councils, the Partnership for Peace countries as well as the Mediterranean Dialogue countries took part in the Conference that was also attended by more than 300 representatives from the political, diplomatic, military, economic and academic field. The event took place at the Amphitheatre of the Megaron of Theodoros Karatzas, at the National Bank of Greece just one week after the NATO Summit in Riga on “NATO’s Challenges in the 21^st Century” and, as such, was a great opportunity for this “family reunion”.

The Minister of National Defence of Greece, Mr. Evangelos Meimarakis offered to the guests an official welcome with his introductory speech while Mr. Ioannis Valinakis, Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs concluded the 52^nd General Assembly with his final remarks at the Closing Ceremony of the Assembly. Mr. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, Secretary General of NATO also took part in the Assembly by addressing the audience via videoconference on Thursday, December 7.

In the 52^nd General Assembly ATA members welcomed Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia as Associate Members and Israel as an Observer Member, reinforcing in this way the policy underpinned by the NATO Summits of Prague, Istanbul and Riga all of which stress the importance of integrating countries of the broader Euro-Atlantic area and strengthening through common values their international cooperation.

During the ATA Assembly, the Youth Atlantic Treaty Association (YATA) also convened. With the participation of over 30 delegations from NATO, PfP and the Mediterranean dialogue countries, more than 100 young people had the chance to discuss and debate on the new NATO regional and global challenges.

Parallel to the YATA meetings a new fellowship program was set afoot, organized by G.A.A.E.C. and the Fund for American Studies, entitled “International Security and Cooperation: The Contribution of a New Generation”. This unique program gathered over 40 young TFAS Alumni and offered them the exclusive opportunity of participating in the General Assembly Sessions as well as creating an important network for their future aspirations.

This is the second time that G.A.A.E.C. hosts the General Assembly of A.T.A. In 1993, G.A.A.E.C. had the pleasure to host in Athens the 39th General Assembly on 'NATO's Response to New European Challenges'.



Please click below for:

● The welcome speech from the President of G.A.A.E.C., Mr. Theodossis Georgiou ●

● The message from the President of G.A.A.E.C., Mr. Theodossis Georgiou ●

● The message from the President of the Atlantic Treaty Association, Ambassador Robert E. Hunter ●

● The Program ●                 ● Photo Gallery ●

● The Council Meeting ●

● The General Report of the A.T..A. by Mr. Alex Serban, General Rapporteur of the A.T.A. ●

    ● List of Speeches ●                     ● Sponsors ●                  ● Lists of Participants ●

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