Speech to NATO's Young Atlanticist Summit

Lisbon, Portugal – This is the presentation I made to young leaders on the sidelines of the NATO Summit. The event connected young leaders with one another and with Alliance leaders to discuss NATO’s strategic concept and other pressing issues facing the Alliance. I explored how NATO and can support peace and how we can help.

I presented the: “Who, what, why, where, when and how of NATO and the Middle East” on Thursday, November 18, 2010 as part of an expert panel discussion titled: “NATO Operations in Afghanistan and the Wider Middle East: What is the Future?” I served as a panelist along with: General Walter Gaskin, Karl-Heinz Kamp and Ryan Gawn. I made the case that with new media we are the media. We are the leaders we have been waiting for.

On Friday, NATO’s Secretary General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, presented his new Strategic Concept for NATO. The new concept reconfirms the bond between nations to defend one another, commits the Alliance to prevent crises and offers partners around the globe more political engagement. It commits NATO to the goals of continuous reform, a Europe at peace, and a world without nuclear weapons.

I jumped to ask the first question at the Q&A. I introduced myself and said: “I represent MEPEACE - networking Palestinians, Israelis and Internationals for Middle East peace. We need your help. What are your thoughts? Specifically, can we expect you to help - support peace in the Middle East?!

Rasmussen’s response made news as he explained that Middle East leaders will to reach agreement first, see (in Portugese): http://jornal.publico.pt/noticia/20-11-2010/perguntas-dificeis-dos-jovens-que-nao-vieram-fazer-turismo-20659599.htm.

United States President Barack Obama waved to me from his motorcade as he arrived at the Summit on Saturday morning, November 20. Along with other young leaders waiting for a glimpse of the US leader, I stood ten feet from the President. We had seen Angela Merkel of Germany, Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and other leaders. Obama came across most cheerful, relaxed and confident - he smiled as he waved.

I met United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon before he spoke to the young leaders that afternoon. The Secretary General heard I am from Tel Aviv and said: “Shalom Shalom”. Ban Ki Moon, serene, effective and inspiring, encouraged us to have “global vision” and go beyond our boundaries. His appeal:“Think about how we can make this world a better place for all!” The conference closed with Socrates, the Portugese Prime Minister, who shared his happiness.

Thank you to all who enabled me to explore what is possible for peace through NATO Alliance. Thanks to David Kirk for accepting me and inviting me to speak, to Caroline Brodbeck for enabling me to share the presentation with others, to the Portugese who volunteered and hosted us beautifully, and to all my new friends: thank you.

If you’ve read until here, you can find out more: http://www.mepeace.org/page/about-us
Learn about MEPEACE Awards: http://www.mepeace.org/events/mepeace-awards-event-dec-31
Support us: http://www.mepeace.org/page/support-mepeace

Feel free to contact me directly.

Eyal Raviv
+972-52-688-2828
Email: eyal@mepeace.org

PS. Your feedback is welcome.