April  15,  2014      Dear  all,      March  was  an  extremely  busy  month  for  young  people  and  professionals  all  around  our  network.   The   situation   in   Europe   has   changed   from   a   minor   political   dispute   to   an  international  crisis  that  Europe  has  not  seen  since  the  end  of  the  Balkans  wars.  A  stable  security  environment  was  shattered  by  the  de  facto  annexation  of  the  Crimean  peninsula  and  the  ongoing  political  pressure  on  all  sides  involved.  This  has  caused  a  lot  of  nervous  voices  to  appear  on  the  Eastern  borders  and  concerned  ones  in  NATO.  Post  Afghanistan  topics   have   been   shadowed   by   the   new   geopolitical   or   regional   shifts   of   power   in  Europe.        YATA   members   have   become   the   forefront   of   the   media   attention   on   social   media  regarding  security  issues  that  their  own  countries  and  the  alliance  as  a  whole  are  facing.  It  has  been  10  year  since  one  of  the  largest  enlargements  of  NATO  took  place  on  29th  of  March   2004   and   we   can   see   how   these   new   members   enriched   the   alliance   and  especially   YATA   as   a   whole.   Croatia   and   Albania   are   also   celebrating   their   5th  anniversary  in  NATO.  I  am  very  proud  on  what  the  Youth  Atlantic  Treaty  Association  has  done  so  far.  We  have  been   moving   slowly   but   surely   on   a   path   we   knew   we   could   follow   and   expand   to  encompass   YATA   member’s   wishes   and   needs.   Chapters   are   seeing   better  communication  and  response   from  the  Executive  Board  and  we  on  the  other  hand  are  getting  great  cooperation  and  positive  feedbacks  from  them.  Spring  will  be  a  busy  period  for   YATA   as  many   events  will   take   place.   NorSec,   Globsec,   GYM  NATO,   DAYS   are   just  some  of  these  event  where  young  professionals  can  meet  and  discuss  their  experiences  and  build  their  knowledge  with  the  incorporation  of  new  ideas  and  information.      Smaller,  but  not  at  all  less  important  are  the  local  events  that  are  taking  place  all  around  our  network.  These  events  which  are  aimed  at   the  public  and  professionals  outside  of  the   security   field   and   NATO   affairs,   serve   one   of   the   most   important   thing   for  maintaining   our   future   cooperation:   understanding   and   communication   among   the  public.    YATA   is   as   strong  as  we   the  members   involved.   I   am  very  happy   to   see   smaller  event  that   take   place   around   the   network   and   the   numbers   that   are  much   higher   as   I   have  expected.  There  is  at  least  one  event  per  week  somewhere  in  the  network,  either  aimed  at  students  or  open  to  the  public.  The  outreach  we  have  is  enormous  and  the  impact  one  of   the   largest   security   related   network   of   young   professionals   has   is   not   to   be  underestimated.        A  LinkedIn  group  will  help  us  form  better  connections  and  easier  ways  of  connection  to  people   around   our   network   and   I   am   pleased   to   say   that   it   become   operational   in   a  couple   of   weeks   the   latest.   The   North   American   Action   Group   has   already   started   to  contact   people   that   wish   to   join   and   help   connect   people   in   Europe   and   the   US   and  Canada  on  a  more  practical  and  useful  manner.  I  am  also  happy  to  say  that  mr  Jozef  Kosc  

Youth  Atlantic  Treaty  Association  Newsletter  2014-­‐3  

will  be  the   leader  of   the  group  and  will  help   facilitate  the  processes  of  communication  and  keeping  the  group  on  their  toes!      Daniel  Fazlić  –  YATA  Executive  Vice  President          

   

1. Report  on  Washington  study  tour  by  Rowin  Appelman  Last  week  of  March  2014  

 Dear  YATA  members,      The  past  8  weeks  have  been  very   intense  and  crucial  within   the   transatlantic  alliance.  Russia   emerged   into   its   sphere   again,   and   Putin   seems   to   ignore   geopolitical  consequences  while   pursuing   his  march  Westwards.   It   demands   a   response   from   the  West,  which  surprisingly  takes  a  long  time  to  even  get  discussed  among  its  members.  I  was  in  Washington  on  behalf  of  YATA  two  weeks  ago,  together  with  delegates  from  the  ATA,  to  meet  with  all  important  think  tanks,  and  to  ask  for  their  opinion  on  the  matters  at  hand.  Brookings   Institution,  CSIS  and   the  Centre   for  American  Progress  all   stressed  the  same  point:  the  European  Union  needs  to  take  a  stand,  and  act  openly/visibly,  as  the  United  States  will  not  act  on  its  own  in  this  case.   Interesting  was  the  meeting  with  the  US-­‐Ukraine   Foundation,   to   receive   further   insight   on   the   primary   candidates   up   for  election,   and   to   view   the   Ukraine   case   through   the   perspective   of   Russia.   The  Foundation   explained   who   is   backing   up   the   Russians,   and   how   they   regret   that  everyone   already   seems   to   speak   about   a   "lost   Crimea".   They   spoke   about   Russia's  dependence  on  export,  sometimes  up  to  30%  of  its  GDP,  and  the  opinion  and  influence  of  its  rich  minority,  focussing  interestingly  already  just  on  the  devastating  consequences  of  cutting  Visa  and  MasterCard  traffic.      Johns  Hopkins  University's  experts  spoke  with  us  on  the  importance  for  NATO  to  look  at  its  contingency  planning:   the  situation  surrounding  Russia  and   the  Ukraine  could  be  a  game   changer   at   this   stage   for   the   strength   of   NATO’s   Alliance.   It   now   has   a   security  problem,  which  it  did  not  know  it  had  before.  Additional  infrastructure  is  not  necessarily  needed   in   Europe,   but   showing   force   is.   Military   port   visits   and   visible   training   are  needed  in  the  nearby  future,  and  NATO  will  have  to  respond  when  a  cyber  attack  will  be  launched  at  one  of  our  partner.  It  is  not  about  putting  up  military  bases  at  this  point,  nor  to  raise  the  nuclear  issue.    There  is  no  military  need  for  that.  We  have  good  contingency  planning  within  our  Alliance,  but  considering  the  situation,  we  need  to  properly  update  our  planning.  Contingency  planning  should  be  one  of  the  main  focus  points  of  NATO  at  this   time,  according  to   them.  The  Pentagon  and  Leo  Michel,   from  the  National  Defense  University,  stressed  to  us  to  also  not  forget  Romania  and  Moldova,  as  the  Russian  effect  might   reach   beyond   the   Ukraine.   The   upcoming   NATO   Summit   needs   to   focus   on  strengthening   the   divided   and  weak  West,  while   building   a   new   Capabilities   package,  which  is  robust  on  Article  2,  Article  5  and  European  territory.  The  Heritage  Foundation  

Looking  back  at  previous  YATA  events  

explained   the   need   for   a   so-­‐called   Partnerships   2.0   Group,   including   Sweden,   Finland  and  Kazakhstan,  who  have  all  proven  themselves  in  NATO  missions  in  recent  years.      Hearing  all  the  opinions,  I  am  curious  to  see  what  developments  will  arise,  and  I  would  love   to   discuss   this  with   all   of   you.   I   hope   everyone   is   reaching   out  within   their   own  network  in  these  crucial  times,  and  stirring  the  debate  which  is  so  needed  at  this  point.      

 2. ''Five  years  of  Croatia  in  NATO'':  ATA/YATA  Croatia  –  1st  of  April  2014  

 On   April   1st   the   Atlantic   Council   of  Croatia   hosted   an   international  conference   ''Five   years   of   Croatia   in  NATO''   at   the   Croatian   Defense  Academy   ''Petar   Zrinski''   in   Zagreb.  The   conference   gathered   more   than  50   participants   from   the   region  including   government,   military,  academia   and   YATA   representatives  from   Croatia,   Slovenia,   Serbia,  Montenegro,  Bosnia  and  Herzegovina,  Macedonia,   and   United   States.   The  goal  of  the  conference  was  to  evaluate  the  first  five  years  of  Croatia's  integration  into  NATO  and  to  share  valuable  experiences  with  countries  from  the  region  that  are  membership  candidates.    The  ceremony  was  opened  by  Prof.  Dr.  Radovan  Vukadinović,  President  of  the  Atlantic  Council  of  Croatia.  He  emphasized   the  value  of  Croatia  as  a   serious  partner   in  NATO's  operations  all  over  the  world,  where  the  Croatian  flag  is  proudly  carried  on  representing  the  transatlantic  values.  Following  dr.  Vukadinović's  remarks  the  audience  was  honored  to   have   Ambassador   Kenneth   Merten,   US   Ambassador   to   Croatia   deliver   a   speech   to  further  welcome  conference  attendees.  His  remarks  focused  on  the  shared  values  of  the  transatlantic  community,  and  the  uniqueness  of  NATO  because  of  those  values.  General  Drago  Lovrić,  Chief  of  General  Staff  of  the  Croatian  Armed  Forces  stated  that  the  last  five  years  were  a  very  important  period  for  the  development  of  the  Croatian  Armed  Forces  

and   stressed   out   new   capabilities  gained   in   NATO.   He   emphasized   that  the   Ukrainian   crisis   showed   the  importance   of   maintaining  Transatlantic   ties   and   stressed   out  regional   cooperation   conducted  between   Croatia   and   its   neighboring  countries,   especially   the   Republic   of  Serbia.          

   

   

3. YATA  Norway:  Three  major  events  in  one  day  25th  of  March  2014      On   25   March   YATA   Norway   and   its   sub-­‐divisions   organized   three   seminars   in   three  different  cities,  with  a  total  attendance  of  approximately  320  people.      Oslo:   YATA  Norway   invited  members   to   an   exclusive   seminar  with   the  Norwegian  oil  and  gas  company  Statoil.    Topic  of  the  seminar  was  the  terrorist  attacks  in  2013  on  the  gas   facility   in   In   Amenas,   Algeria,   which   is   operated   by   a   joint   venture   between  Sonatrach  from  Algeria,  UK-­‐based  BP  and  Statoil.   In  total  67  people  were  killed  during  the  hostage  crisis,  of  which  5  Norwegians.  12  Norwegians  survived  the  attacks.    Bergen:  YATA  Bergen  held  an  event  with  Major-­‐General  Robert  Mood  about  the  Syrian  Civil  War.  Major-­‐General  Mood  was   in   2012   appointed   as  Head   of   the  United  Nations  Supervision   Mission   in   Syria   (UNSMIS).   After   the   failed   negotiations   in   the   so-­‐called  Geneva   II   Conference   on   Syria   in   January   2014,   he   shared   his   thoughts   and   views   on  how  the  Syrian  Civil  War,  which  is  described  as  one  of  the  world’s  worst  humanitarian  disasters,  could  be  solved  and  handled.      Trondheim:  YATA  Trondheim  invited  to  a  seminar  with  the  Norwegian  Police  Security  Service  (PST).  What  kind  of  threats  can  we  expect  in  the  upcoming  year?  How  likely  can  we  expect  a  terrorist  attack  on  Norway  again?  What  danger  do  returned  warriors  from  Syria   impose?   These  were   among   the   questions   the   Police   Security   Service   answered  during  the  session.    PST  was  particularly  focusing  on  what  students  in  particular  should  be   aware   of   in   daily   life.   An   English   summary   of   the   seminar   can   be   found   on   YATA  Norway’s  homepage.      

4. “NATO  &  EU  Roundtable  2014”  YATA  Estonia  –  4th    –  6th    April  2014      

NATO’s   65th   anniversary   celebration  event  took  place  in  the  center  of  Tallinn,  in   a   comfortable   and   contemporary  Nordic  Hotel  Forum,  that  gladly  adopted  more   than   100   guests   and   participants  

from   various   European   countries   and   beyond.   At   the   beginning   of   the   conference  students  and  diplomats  were  warmly  welcomed  by  Secretary  General  of  Estonian  MFA  Mr   Alar   Streiman.   In   his   welcome   address   Secretary   General   noted   that   for   65   years  NATO   has   remained   a   main   guarantor   of   European   security.   He   also   stressed   the  universality  of  the  core  values  that  underpin  the  Alliance.    The  discussion  started  with  question  on  NATO’s  development  from  its  foundation  to  the  present   day,   how   the   alliance   has   managed   to   transform   and   what   tasks   it   has   to  perform   in   the   future.  The   first  who  took   the   floor  was  British  Ambassador   to  Estonia  H.E.  Mr  Christopher  Holtby.  H.E.  Mr  Holtby  brought  up  the  fact  that  during  recent  years  there  has  been  lack  of  unity  between  the  alliance  members,  which  has  resulted  in  a  lack  of   cooperation.   According   to   the   ambassador,   the   alliance   must   develop   existing  potential  and  work  more  closely  with  the  United  Stated  and  use  the  advantages  of  this  transatlantic  relationship.    

Mrs   Guna   Šnore   for   her   side   noted   that   the   transformation   of   the   alliance   and   its  enlargement   is   a   story   of   success.   Main   topics   will   be   the   situation   in   Ukraine,   the  defense  spending  of  NATO  members,  as  well  as  planning  further  actions  to  optimize  and  expand   alliance   activities.   After   a   short   break   and   celebrations   of   NATO’s   65th  anniversary,  discussions  continued  on  the  topic  of  “New  threats  and  opportunities  in  the  21st  century  and  the  role  of  international  organizations.”    

Interesting   questions   that   came  from   the   audience   addressed   the  distortion  of  the  facts  by  the  media  and   how   NATO   could   affect   the  provision   of   reliable   information.  According   to   panelists,   press   and  media  are,  and  should  be,  free  and  any  control  over  these  is  in  conflict  with   the  democratic  principles.  To  obtain   reliable   information   the  

public   should   have   access   to   various   sources   of   information   and   be   able   to   analyze   it  independently.    The  last  section  of  the  day  was  dedicated  to  the  topic  of  “Military  Cooperation  among  the  Alliance  and  Partner  Countries”.  Participants  and  guests  of  the  event  had  the  possibility  to   listen  two  very   interesting  presentations-­‐   first  one  from  the  representative  of  Baltic  Defense   College,   Mr   James   Rogers,   and   the   second   one   from   Mr   Kurt   Engelen,  representative  of  the  Belgian  Representation  to  the  Military  Committee  of  NATO.    If  the  first  day  of  the  “NATO  and  EU  Roundtable  2014”  in  Tallinn,  Nordic  Hotel  Forum,  was  dedicated  to  the  panels  and  presentations  given  by  distinguished  panelists,  then  the  second   and   third   day   in   Saka   Cliff   Manor,   Ida-­‐Virumaa,   saw   participants   themselves  engaging   in   deep   discussions   about   NATO   &   EU   relations   in   the   form   of   a   NATO  simulation  game.    Each   participant   was   assigned   a   NATO  member   country   that   he   or   she   had   to  represent   as  well   as   a   Committee   (i.e.   either  Political   and   Partnerships   Committee   or  Defence  Policy   and  Planning  Committee).  All  delegates   were   divided   into   4   groups  (moderated  by  Mr  Tõnis  Asson,  Ms  Tiiu  Pohl,  Mr  Kurt  Engelen  and  Mr  Eoin  McNamara)  and  then   tasked   to   discuss   at   least   two   of   the  following  topics  depending  on  the  Committee  to  where  they  were  assigned  to:  1)  What  is  and  could  be  the  role  of  women  in  security?  2)  The  role  of  NATO,  EU  and  Russia  in  the  security  of  the  South  Caucasus?  3)  How  involved  should  NATO  and  EU  be  in  the  Arctic?    4)  Situation  in  Ukraine  (2014)        

 

Upcoming  YATA  events:  highlighted  

 1. GYM  NATO  2014,  12  –  16  May  2014  

 

   GYM-­‐NATO   is   an  international   student   simulation   of   NATO’s   decision   making  process  that  will   be   held   in  Gorizia   (Italy)   at   the  prestigious  Conference  Centre   of   the  Degree   Course   in   International   and   Diplomatic   Sciences   of   the   University   of   Trieste,  Gorizia  Branch.  It  provides  a  unique  opportunity  for  students  and  young  professionals  to  foster  their  awareness  of  NATO’s  role,  activities  and  organization  as  well  as  at  increasing  the   understanding  of   the   capabilities   and   the   restrictions   that   shape   the   decisions   of  NATO  Member  States  in  matter  of  collective  defense.    Since   the  main   theme  of   the  simulation  will  be  NATO’s  role   in   the  new  Mediterranean  geopolitical   asset,  we  would   like   to   aware   our   delegates   of  NATO’s   activities  with   the  partners  in  the  broader  region,  especially  the  Mediterranean  dialogue  countries  that  will  be   included   in   the   simulation,   as   well   as   the   main   challenges   to   the   euro-­‐atlantic  integration  and  to  the  post-­‐  conflict  peace  building  operations.      More   than   100   students   and   young   professionals   will   gather   in   Gorizia,   from   NATO  Members   and   Partners   Countries,   to   simulate   intra-­‐NATO   diplomacy   and   to   debate  about   these   relevant   issues,   trying   to   think   out   of   the   box   in   order   to   produce   some  valiant  policy  recommendations.  Furthermore,  at  the  beginning  of  the  simulation,  members  of  the  Italian  Foreign  Service,  NATO  civil  and  military  officials  will   train  our  delegates   through  specific  briefings  and  workshops.                      

2. Globsec  2014:  Young  Leaders  Forum,  13-­‐16  May  2014          

         On  13  -­‐  16  May  2014,  Bratislava  will  yet  again  become  the  hub  of  security  and  foreign  policy-­‐making  as  top        government,  military  and  diplomatic  officials  as  well  as  business  and  NGO  leaders  will  gather  for  the  9th  annual  GLOBSEC  2014  Bratislava  Global  Security  Forum.    The  Call  for  Applications  for  the  30  spots  in  the  Young  Leaders  Forum  is  closed  now.  We  hope  that  many  YATA  Chapters  are  sending  in  delegates  aged  between  25  and  35,  and  YATA  President  Rowinda  Appelman  looks  forward  to  meeting  them  all  (again)  there.      

3. 2BS  Forum  Montenegro  -­‐  YATA  half  year  meeting,  29  –  31  May  2014      The  half  year  meeting   for   this  year  will  be  organized  during   the  2BS  Forum  in  Montenegro.  The  event  will   take  place  on  the  30th  and   31st   of   May,   but   YATA   representatives   will   have   their   own  day   on   the   29th   of   May,   to   discuss   current   issues   within   the  network,   and   Chapter   and   cooperation   updates.   Finance  opportunities   for   Chapters   will   be   presented.   For   those   of   you  who  are  attending  2BS  please   let   the  2BS  team  know  your   flight  details  as  soon  as  possible  but  no  later  than  1st  of  May.  The  YATA  team  is  looking  forward  to  be  seeing  all  of  you  in  Budva!      For  further  information  on  the  event,  visit  www.2bs.me.        

4. Danish  Atlantic  Youth  Seminar  (DAYS)  –        30  June  –  6  July  2014      

 There   are   still   a   few   available   applications   for   the   Danish   Atlantic   Youth   Seminar  (DAYS),  from  the  30th  of  June  to  the  6th  of  July  2014  at  the  Aalborg  Air  Base  (Denmark)!      The   week   will   host   numerous   diplomats,   academics,   senior   researchers   and  representatives   from   the   Danish   Defense   sector   in   order   to   ensure   an   insightful   and  exciting   debate.  

The  thematic  agenda  of  DAYS  2014  will  be  “Conflicts  and  Warfare  in  a  Globalized  World”  constituting  issues  such  as  «NATO  post  Afghanistan»  or  «The  Arctic  as  a  new  sphere  of  interests»,   and   you  will   also   have   an   opportunity   to   test   your   diplomatic   skills   in   the  simulation   game   “Diplomacy   and  Crisis  Management   in   the  backyard  of   Europe.   Case:  The  South  Caucasus”.  The  price   for   participants  will   be  260  Euros   for   payments  we   receive  before   our   first  deadline  (2nd  of  May)  and  280  Euros  for  payments  arriving  later  than  this  date.  Closing  dates  for  applications:  Sunday  the  27th  of  April.  For   further   information,   please   consult   the   Facebook   event  (https://www.facebook.com/events/443788032417825/)   and   the   official   website  (http://www.atlant.dk/arrangementer/2014/danish-­‐atlantic-­‐youth-­‐seminar-­‐2014/).      

5. The  South-­‐Eastern  European  NATO  Academy  (SEE  NATO),  May  11-­‐15    2014    

       (SEE   NATO)   is   an   international   educational   opportunity   for   university   students   from  members   or   partners   countries,   designed   to   promote   the   importance   of   transatlantic  values   in   our   societies,  while   educating   them   about   the  modern   day   threats   to   global  security   that  NATO  HQ  and   its  members   face   in  our  century,  and  about  the  abilities   to  respond.  This  event  will  host  a  five  day  international  workshop  and  a  simulation  of  an  emergency  situation,   more   specifically,   participants   will   have   the   opportunity   to   gain   a   fruitful  understanding   of   what   policy   options   are   available   in   a   time   of   crisis   and   which   are  exactly  the  capabilities  to  respond.  Leading  in  a  new  security  climate,  when  the  Alliance  has  taken  on  new  roles,  not  only  in  fighting  terrorism  or  in  proving  a  safe  world  order,  but  also  on  conducting  peacekeeping  and  humanitarian  support,  a  clear  understanding  of  the  purpose  and  relevance  of  NATO  amongst  the  youth  is  necessary  for  the  future  of  national  and  global  security.  Furthermore,   the  simulation  will   focus  on   the   importance  of  NATO’s  close  relations  with  its  Member  States  and  the  necessity  of  Allies  joining  their  efforts  in  achieving  NATO’s  primary  transatlantic  objectives.  By  providing  a  series  of  workshops,  lectures  and  an  active  simulation,  we  will  create  an  educational   environment   where   students   can   get   a   clear   understanding   of   how   an  international   crisis   is  managed   in   today’s  world.  By   simulating  what  NATO’s   response  mechanisms   are,  what   capabilities   and  options   it   has   available   to   it   and  how  decision  making  processes  within  the  North  Atlantic  Council  works,  students  will  gain  invaluable  insight   into  NATO’s   role   the  21th   century,   its   importance   to  national   security   and   the  role  plays  in  international  relations.      

   We  hereby  present  you  with  an  overview  of  the  upcoming  international  events.  We  will  update   this   calendar   whenever   we   receive   new   information,   and   actively   ask   the  organizers  of  the  events  to  keep  us  updated  whenever  new  information  or  date  changes  arise.  We  will  also  post  the  announcement  whenever  registration  opens  up  for  one  of  the  mentioned   events.   Please   contact   the   YATA   Chapters   of   the   specific   countries   for   any  further  information  on  the  events.      Date   Event   Country    24  –  27  April   Norsec   Norway  11  –  15  May   SEE  NATO   Romania  12  –  16  May   GYM-­‐NATO   Italy    14  –  16  May   Globsec  (25-­‐35  year  olds)   Slovakia  29  –  31  May   2BS   Forum   /   YATA  half   year  

meeting  Montenegro  

Mid  June   Croatia  NATO  Summerschool     Croatia  30  June  –  6  July   DAYS   Denmark  Last  week  of  July   PAYS   Portugal  4  –  5  September   NATO  Summit   Wales,  UK  Beginning  of  September   Riga  Conference   Latvia  September   Balkan  SAYS   Slovenia  November   NATO   Parliamentary   Assem-­‐

bly  with  YATA  involvement  Netherlands  

November  /  December   General  Assembly     -­‐  unknown  -­‐          NB:     The   Parliamentary   Assembly   Session   in   the  Netherlands  will   be   attended   by   the  Members   of   Parliament   from   the  36   countries   involved  within  NATO.  YATA  President  Rowinda  Appelman  is  now  in  a  far  stage  of  negotiations  to  provide  access  to  this  event  for   YATA   representatives.   Further   information   will   be   provided   on   this   event   in   the  upcoming  months.              

     If  you  need  a  letter  of  recognition,  to  show  that  your  YATA  Chapter  is  the  official  YATA  organ  within  your  country,  please  let  us  know.  The  ATA  Secretariat  and  YATA  President  

Upcoming  YATA  events:  international  calendar  

Letter  of  Recognition:  official  YATA  Chapter    

Rowinda   Appelman   will   then   help   you   receive   one   of   these   letters,   to   use   when   you  contact  government  agencies  and  other   institutions.  Please  keep   in  mind   that   it  might  take  1  day  to  conduct  and  send  this  letter,  so  please  do  not  send  requests  last  minute.        

   YATA,   together  with   the   ATA   Secretariat  will   launch   a   YATA  Photo   Competition!   This  competition  will  ask  participants  –  YATA  and  non-­‐YATA  –  to  capture  in  their  own  way,  in  one  photo  frame,  what  they  consider  to  be  the  essence  of  security,  NATO  and  defense,  and   the   connection   between   the   three   points.   Your   pictures   should   reflect   your   own  views  what  security  is!      The  first  call  for  pictures,  followed  by  a  selection  by  a  committee  will  be  announced  on  Sunday  and  the  official  opening  of  the  competition  will  be  Monday  the  21st  of  April.  The  prize   for   the  best  picture,  decided  by   the  committee,  will  be  a   free   admission   to   the  Portuguese   Atlantic   Youth   Seminar!  We  will   have   smaller  prizes   for  pictures  of   the  week,  that  will  take  the  place  of  the  cover  on  our  Facebook  page  and  the  picture  of  the  month  that  will  be  posted  in  Atlantic  Voices.  Do  not  miss  this  unique  opportunity  to  get  your  message  across  our  network!      You  can  send  your  pictures  to  our  Facebook  page:    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Youth-­‐Atlantic-­‐Treaty-­‐Association/138147676262183      Or  to  emails:  rowindaappelman@gmail.com  and  daniel.fazlic@gmail.com  who  will  make  sure  that  the  pictures  will  find  the  right  people!        

   The  YATA  website  in  now  working  without  major  difficulties  and  we  would  like  to  ask  our  readers  to  give  us  any  suggestions  they  may  have  regarding  the  page.  We  would  also  like   to   ask   our   Chapters   to   view   their   contact   tab   in   the   page   and   give   us   their  introduction  –  a  short  summary  of  what  the  Chapter  is  doing,  a  couple  of  pictures  and  up  to  date  contact  information.      

YATA  photo  competition  

YATA  website:  your  opinions  matter!  

     Successful  establishment  of  the  North  American  Action  Group      

   April  was  a  busy  month  for  the  NA  Action  Group  as  it  was  finally  becoming  a  reality  that  was   brought   alive   from   a   theoretical   framework.   Mr   Jozef   Kosc   has   agreed   to   be   the  Leader   of   the   group   and   will   help   in   the   group   to   facilitate   communication   between  YATA  Europe  and  Young  professionals  from  the  US  and  Canadian  Chapters!  The  Group  will   have   a   core   group   of   people   ready   by   the   end   of   the  month   but   we   are   already  pleased  to  say  that  the  Canadian  Atlantic  Council  has  agreed  to  work  with  us  through  the  group  and  they  expressed  a  keen  interest  in  connecting  to  YATA  issues  in  Europe.    I   would   like   to   congratulate   all   people   involved   in   getting   YATA   a   closer   and   better  working  relationship  with  all  Chapters  and  I  am  looking  forward  to  communicating  and  working  with  the  group  in  the  future!      

 1. Funding  

 The   Board   would   like   to   remind   all   Chapters   that   NATO   PDD   has   two   deadlines   for  project   funding  still   this  year.  Further   information  can  be   found  through  the   following  link:           http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/87998.htm    The  deadline   is  part   of  NATO’s   Science   for  Peace   and  Security  program.  Deadlines   for  grant  applications  in  2014  still  are  1  July  and  1  October.  Applicants  should  keep  in  mind  that  it  can  take  up  to  9  months  before  they  receive  a  final  offer.  For  further  information  on  a  quicker  process,  NATO  PDD  can  be  contacted  directly,  for  special  projects  involving  the  youth.    Next   to   that,   our   VP   for   Finance,   Vladan   Balaban,   is   working   on   a   general   YATA  application  for  funding  from  the  Council  of  Europe  and  the  European  Youth  Foundation.    A   short   presentation   will   be   given   at   the   2   Be   Secure   Forum   in   Budva,   Montenegro  

Contact  person  per  Chapter:      

1. Rowinda  Appelman:  UK,  Belgium,  Finland,  Spain,  Armenia,  Austria  2. Daniel  Fazlić:    Portugal,  Canada,  USA,  Iceland,  Lithuania,  Turkey    3. Juxhina  Sotiri:  Georgia,  Slovenia,  Denmark,  Bulgaria,  Poland,  Russia    4. Francisco  Costa:  Greece,  Italy,  Albania,  Ukraine,  Germany,  Romania  5. Vladan  Balaban:  Macedonia,  Croatia,  Norway,  Estonia,  Slovakia,  Hungary  6. Ilija  Djugumanov:  Montenegro,  Serbia,  Latvia,  Azerbaijan,  Netherlands,  Czech  

Republic,  Bosnia-­‐Herzegovina    

Further  Information:  funding,  internships  and  publications  

regarding   possible   funding   for   Chapters   and   how   they   can   apply   for   funding   on   their  own.  A  copy  of  the  presentation  will  be  available  for  those  who  will  not  be  attending.      

2. Internship  opportunities      Type:   Internship  (21  or  older)  Where:   HQ  SACT  –  Norfolk,  Virginia,  USA  

When:   2015:   start   dates   determined   individually   (in   principle,   in   Spring   and  Fall).  Internships  will  be  for  a  six  month  period.    

Duration   6  months  Application  closing  on:   January  2nd  2014  to  April  30th  2014  Link:   http://www.act.nato.int/act-­‐internship-­‐programme  Financial  compensation:     Yes:  1100$  

 Type:   Internship    Where:   European  Council  –  Brussels,  Belgium  When:   2015  Duration   5  months  Application  closing  on:   June  2nd  2014  to  September  1st  2014  Link:   http://ue.eu.int/contacts/traineeships-­‐office/paid-­‐traineeships?lang=en  Financial  compensation:     Yes:  TBA  

 Type:   Internship    Where:   European  Commission  –  Brussels,  Belgium  When:   2015  Duration   5  months  Application  closing  on:   Fall  2014  Link:   http://ec.europa.eu/stages/about/whats_en.htm  Financial  compensation:     Yes:  Around  1000€  

   Type:   Internship    Where:   Council  of  Europe  –  Brussels,  Belgium  When:   2015  Duration   From  8  weeks  to  5  months  Application  closing  on:   May  2nd  2014  Link:   http://www.coe.int/en/web/jobs/traineeships  Financial  compensation:     No  

 Type:   Internship    Where:   NATO  HQ  –  Brussels,  Belgium  When:   2015  Duration   6  months  Application  closing  on:   15th  April  2014  Link:   http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/72041.htm  Financial  compensation:     Yes:  800EUR    

 Type:   Internship    Where:   European  Parliament    When:   2015  Duration   5  months  

Application  closing  on:   15th  May  2014  

Link:   http://www.europarl.europa.eu/aboutparliament/en/007cecd1cc/Traineeships.html  

Financial  compensation:     Yes:  Around  1000€  

 If  you  come  across  any  other  interesting  position,  please  inform  the  Executive  Board.        

3. Publications    The   March   Edition   of   Atlantic   Voices,   called   “Ukraine's   Sovereignty   &   Russia's   Near  Abroad”  can  be  found  through  the  following  link:      http://issuu.com/atlantic_treaty_association/docs/vol.4__no._3__march_2014_1_final1      Please   keep   in  mind   that   Atlantic   Voices   is   always   seeking   new  material.   If   you   are   a  young   researcher,   subject   expert   or   professional   and   feel   you   have   a   valuable  contribution  to  make  to  the  debate,  please  get  in  touch  with  the  Executive  Board.        .