"Six degrees of separation is the idea that all living things and everything else in the world are six or fewer steps away from each other so that a chain of "a friend of a friend" statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps" (Wikipedia 2017).

[I have participated anew to the opening ceremony of the GCSP Orientation Course for the Defence Attachés. I opened this second edition together with Chief of Defense Staff (CDS), Admiral Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne; Vice-Chancellor KDU, Rear Admiral Jagath Ranasinghe, and His Excellency Heinz Walker-Nederkoorn, Ambassador of Switzerland to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and to the Republic of Maldives.

Once again, the course, perfectly organised by the GCSP and the office of the Chief of Defense Staff (OCDS), with the support of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), had a great start. Once again, I had the chance to meet great participants!]

SECOND ORIENTATION COURSE FOR DEFENCE ATTACHÉS COMMENCE AT KDU

The multilateral workshop discussing the international cooperation prospects on institutional reforms necessary to restore stability in Syria took place at the GCSP on 21-22 September 2017.

Training high-potential military officers to cope with their future challenges is an important task for the Swiss Armed Forces. The new Advanced Education Training Course 3 (Weiterausbildungslehrgang 3 – WAL 3), an 8-week module organized by the Swiss Military Academy (MILAK), is part of this approach.

The GCSP has been tasked to organize a one-week segment dedicated to the international context. The course director, Colonel (GS) Christian Bühlmann, Head of the Regional Perspectives Programmes, focussed the module on International Organizations relevant to Swiss Security. He was expertly supported by Ms Mélanie Chaves.

 Pour la première fois cette année, le GCSP a contribué à la « Semaine de la démocratie », coordonnée par la chancellerie d’État du canton de Genève. Le centre a organisé un débat de type Oxford pour des classes du secondaire. Des élèves du collège Sismondi ont participé avec enthousiasme et beaucoup d’esprit critique à cette manifestation.