05 August 2002
Opening Remarks by Mr Barry Desker, Director of IDSS, For the 4th IDSS Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers Held at the Beaufort Hotel
On behalf of the Board of Governors and the staff of the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all distinguished guests and participants to the opening ceremony of the Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers. Before calling on the DPM and Minister of Defence Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam to give the opening address, allow me to say a few words.
This week long programme for Senior Military Officers (which used to be called the ‘Summer Camp’ for Senior Military Officers) is the fourth since 1999. The annual event brings together Senior Military Officers from all the countries concerned to spend a week in residence and to interact with one another. The programme provides an opportunity for participants not only to attend lectures of military interest but also to discuss important contemporary issues. What is perhaps unique or special is the informal environment, where officers — regardless of service branch — can learn, interact and have fun and get to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere. Whereas there may be many such forums available to Foreign Ministers, diplomats and academics to discuss and exchange views on strategic questions, there are very few such opportunities for military personnel.
Our principal objective in organizing this annual event is to build confidence and mutual trust amongst the participants. We hope that the personal friendships that are formed here will enhance the working relationships, not only between participants, but also between their respective Armed Forces. Such mutual understanding among military officers, we believe, would provide an important additional protective layer against unnecessary misunderstandings and suspicions that might arise in international relations. The contacts made here will hopefully go some way in ensuring regional peace, progress and stability.
This gathering has grown since we began four years ago. The number of countries gathered here has been gradually increasing. We welcome the participants from Sweden who are here for the first time this year. Like the previous participants who were here in the last three years, I hope that all of you will find the lectures we have planned for you pertinent, the discussions stimulating and the activities we have arranged for you enjoyable. I would also like to thank our distinguished speakers who have taken time off their busy schedules to share their time and knowledge with us. We wish all our distinguished speakers and participants alike an enjoyable week ahead.
I would now like to call upon the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Dr. Tony Tan Keng Yarn, who has been the staunchest supporter of this event since its inception, to give his opening address.
