[Source: gcsp.ch] La fête nationale suisse a été fixée au premier août, une date mentionnée dans le pacte fédéral de 1291. De manière représentative des institutions suisses, cette fête n’a été déterminée qu’à la fin du XIXème siècle, lors du 600ème anniversaire du Pacte, choisi à cette occasion comme date de création de l’ancienne Confédération. Le Conseil fédéral demanda aux cantons de faire sonner les cloches des églises et d’allumer des feux de joie pour fêter la journée. En 1899, sous l’influence des Suisses de l’étranger, qui voulaient aussi célébrer l’équivalent d’un 14 juillet, le Conseil fédéral institutionnalisa la manifestation. Dans les années trente, la fête et le pacte symbolisèrent une volonté d’indépendance farouche en réaction au totalitarisme. Depuis, la fête nationale suisse demeure un événement plutôt modeste, sans défile en défilés ou grande pompe, organisé par les communes. Ce n’est d’ailleurs que depuis 1994 que la fête nationale est un jour férié, après qu’une majorité du peuple et des cantons ait accepté une initiative constitutionnelle.
Thursday, 21 May 2020, marks the United Nations’ World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. This year raises the question: why does cultural diversity matter? Col (GS) Christian Bühlmann, GCSP’s Head of Diplomatic Dialogue, shares his experience of learning about and understanding cultural differences in order to succeed in his work.
The GCSP hosted a new round of security dialogue with the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security (IFANS), affiliated to the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Korea, on 9 July 2019 in Geneva. Both institutions have been holding a security dialogue for several years, alternatively in Geneva and Seoul, in line with the GCSP policy of promoting dialogue with all Korean actors, from the South and the North of the Peninsula.
This one week-long course is aimed at Swiss professional (regular) colonels attending the Weiterausbildungslehrgang 2 (WAL 2). GCSP provided expert training on international. The course was directed by Colonel (GS) Christian Bühlmann, Head of Diplomatic Dialogue and coordinated by Mr Thierry Randon.
Lieutenant General Esa Pulkkinen, Director General of the EU Military Staff (EUMS), payed a visit to the GCSP. In an engaging speech held in front of more than forty course participants, fellows and staff members, General Pulkkinen stressed the importance of values as the fundamental core of EU security and further underlined the importance of the GCSP in launching his international career.
Présentation au Château de Chillon d’une conférence sur la manière de mieux gérer les différences culturelles. Une assistance intéressée a posé de nombreuses questions et soulevé des problèmes liés à des différences de perception.
The GCSP welcomed, on 6 May 2019, a Delegation from the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS), led by Prof. Liu Ming, to discuss recent geopolitical developments at global level. In a first part, the meeting focused on the triangular relationships between China, the US and Europe and the evolving posture of these actors in the light of increasing power competition.
On 20 November 2018, the GSCP hosted a VIP lunch in honour of Dr Mohamed ElBaradei, former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from 1997 to 2009, and winner of the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize. Dr ElBaradei shared with the guests his experience and lessons learned from his career, in particular in dealing with the cases of Iraq, Iran, and North Korea. He stressed the importance of international dialogue and mutual respect. He identified insecurity and inequality as the main reasons behind today’s crises, fuelled by power politics, the danger of nuclear war, persistence of poverty and hunger as well as human rights violations.
On Thursday, November, 8th [2018], the Defence Attaché (DA) course in Amman came to a conclusion after a closing ceremony. 29 participants from 14 countries were awarded a course certificate from the hands of the Royal Jordanian National Defence College (RJNDC) commandant, Brigadier General Abdallah Al Shdaifat and General (Retd) André Blattmann, former Chief of the Swiss Armed Forces.
Sunday, November 4th, 29 participants from 14 countries attended the opening ceremony for the 12th GCSP’s orientation course for military officers, diplomats and senior officials involved in defence and diplomacy at the Royal Jordanian National Defence College (RJNDC) in Amman.
Depuis plus d’une décennie, le GCSP entretient des liens fructueux avec les Forces Armées du Sénégal, notamment avec le Centre des Hautes Études de Défense et de Sécurité (CHEDS) de Dakar créé en 2014. En particulier, depuis 2009, le GCSP organise chaque année à Dakar des cours destinés aux Attachés de défense et hauts fonctionnaires de l’Afrique de l’Ouest actifs dans le domaine de la politique de sécurité et la diplomatie.
Après avoir accueilli le Général de brigade Paul NDIAYE, Directeur du CHEDS, en août 2016, le GCSP avait l’honneur et le grand plaisir de recevoir en ce début de septembre 2018 le Général de Corps d’armée Cheikh GUEYE, Chef d’Etat-Major général des Armées (CEMGA) du Sénégal, accompagné de son aide de camp et d’un officier supérieur.
The participant were introduced to Swiss institutions, Swiss History, Swiss Facts, And Swiss Geography. They also pictured their perception of Switzerland. I stressed the complexity and the stability of the Swiss system.
Commanders and Legal Advisers play a pivotal role in implementing the Law of Armed Conflict (LOAC), Human Rights Law (HRL) and rules governing the Use of Force in military operations. To discharge their operational tasks fully, they are increasingly required to understand the key legal principles at commanding levels and to apply them in both planning and execution. As a result, co-operation between commanders and legal advisers is also essential. This international workshop is organised by Switzerland, in partnership with the GCSP, within the framework of the PfP Partnership Work Programme, Chapter XIII. It focuses on the current operational challenges, on case studies and practical exercises, preceded by contextual in-briefs by international experts and practitioners with operational experience.
During the following discussions, Gen Broeks expressed his interest for centres activities. He also underlined the advantage one gains through multinational trainings because, after a course, participants have created a long lasting network. He concluded by raising the importance of Humanitarian Law in modern conflicts and the need for an effective reform and governance of the security sector in conflict ridden regions.
According to NATO, the DGIMS “is responsible for the coordination between the decision-making bodies of the Alliance, the two Strategic Commanders, national military from NATO and Partner countries working in Brussels, and the civilian International Staff, that support the Secretary General and the North Atlantic Council, in order for the IMS to provide the best possible policy advice to the to the Military Committee”.
The students were on a week-long international trip where they were trained in conflict analysis and intervention planning. They also visited and get presentations from Geneva based organizations. They also had a tour of the UN and attended the 64th session of the UN CEDAW. They will fly back to Moscow next Monday.
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).
Près de Bösingen, au confluent des confessions, des langues et des cantons, quatre postes ont été présentés: la diplomatie scientifique à l’exemple des chouettes, les chouettes comme acteur environemental, les chouettes comme modèle artistique et l’apport des chouettes au processus de paix. Nos amis du Proche-Orient ont convaincu les chefs de mission que l’environnement n’est pas seulement un facteur de conflit, mais qu’il peut aussi devenir facteur de paix.
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.
[caption id="attachment_19071" align="alignnone" width=""]Col (GS) Christian Bühlmann (left), in a state of supreme concentration, listens to H.E. Mr. David Dondua (right), Georgia's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs[/caption]
On Friday, 22 June, the GCSP and the Permanent Mission of Georgia jointly organised an Executive Breakfast Discussion with H.E. Mr David Dondua, Georgia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Head of the Georgian Delegation to the Geneva International Discussions on the Russia-Georgia conflict. The aim of this Executive Breakfast Discussion was to provide an update on the current situation in Georgia’s contested territories, the current dynamics of the Geneva International Discussions (GID), and the steps undertaken by the Georgian Government in the field of conflict resolution. [It was moderated by Col Christian Bühlmann, Head of the Regional Perspectives Programme.]
[caption id="attachment_19071" align="alignnone" width=""]Col (GS) Christian Bühlmann (left), in a state of supreme concentration, listens to H.E. Mr. David Dondua (right), Georgia's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs[/caption]
On Friday, 22 June, the GCSP and the Permanent Mission of Georgia jointly organised an Executive Breakfast Discussion with H.E. Mr David Dondua, Georgia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Head of the Georgian Delegation to the Geneva International Discussions on the Russia-Georgia conflict. The aim of this Executive Breakfast Discussion was to provide an update on the current situation in Georgia’s contested territories, the current dynamics of the Geneva International Discussions (GID), and the steps undertaken by the Georgian Government in the field of conflict resolution. [It was moderated by Col Christian Bühlmann, Head of the Regional Perspectives Programme.]
