07 August 2001
Opening Remarks by Mr Barry Desker, Director of IDSS, for the Third “Summer Camp” for Senior Military Officers Held at the Beaufort Hotel
On behalf of the Board of Governors and the staff of the Institute of Strategic Studies, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all distinguished guests and participants to the opening ceremony of the 3rd Summer Camp for senior military officers in the Asia-Pacific. Before calling on the DPM and Minister of Defence Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam to give the opening address, permit me to say a few words.
This week long Summer Camp for Senior Military Officers is the third since 1999. The ‘Summer Camp’ aims to get Senior Military Officers from all the countries concerned to spend a week in residence and to interact with one another. The programme provides you with the opportunity to discuss important issues and not just to attend lectures of military interest. But most importantly this gathering allows you an invaluable occasion to get to know each other better.
What makes this Summer Camp unique is that it provides an informal environment, where officers — regardless of service branch — can learn, talk and have fun together in a relaxed environment. 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 which offer such an opportunity to military personnel.
Our overall aim in organising this annual event is to build confidence and mutual trust amongst the participants. Hopefully, the personal friendships which 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 should provide an important additional protective layer against unnecessary misunderstandings and suspicions that inevitably arise in international relations. The contacts made here will go some way to ensuring peace, progress and stability within the region.
Like the other participants who have participated in the previous two years, I hope that you with find this environment conducive. Welcome to a stimulating and enjoyable week ahead. I would now like to call upon the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Dr. Tony Tan Keng Yam to give his opening address.
