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In January 2000, the Secretary of Defense approved the
establishment of the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic
Studies (NESA-CSS) under the management of the National Defense
University. Formally launched in October 2000, the Center builds
on the strong bilateral relationships between the United States
and countries in the NESA region by focusing on a multilateral
approach to addressing regional security concerns and issues. It
is designed to meet the knowledge needs of national security
professionals by providing a forum for rigorous examination of the
challenges that shape the security environment of the NESA region.
The Center provides a focal point where national decision makers
can gather to exchange ideas and explore tools for cooperative
problem solving.
The purview of the NESA Center extends from the Atlas Mountains in
the west to the Himalayas in the east--Marrakech to Bangladesh.
The countries with which the United States has diplomatic
relations will participate in the Center's programs, as well as
countries with a strategic interest in the region.
Afghanistan � Algeria � Bahrain � Bangladesh � Egypt � India
� Iraq � Israel � Jordan � Kuwait � Lebanon � Maldives
� Mauritania � Morocco � Nepal � Oman � Pakistan � Qatar
� Saudi Arabia � Sri Lanka � Tunisia � Turkey � The
United Arab Emirates � Yemen
Active participation in the Center's programs is not limited to
these nations. We intend to solicit the participation of
neighboring countries with security interests relevant to the
states of the region.
The Center's annual core activities include:
- Four three-week Executive Seminar sessions for
approximately 40 mid-to-upper level military and civilian
national security professionals
- One week-long Senior Executive Seminar session
- Three single-issue bilateral or subregional seminars or
workshops
- Several one to three-day topical regional or sub-regional
conferences in Washington or the region
Additional activities for future implementation include
mission-relevant research fellowships, alumni activities, and
distance education programs.
Executive and Senior Executive Seminars are held in Washington,
DC. Thematic regional and sub-regional conferences are held in
Washington, DC or in the region.
Participation is open to military and official civilian
representatives from all countries in the NESA region with which
the U.S. government maintains formal diplomatic relations,
non-NESA countries that have strategic interests in the region,
and US military and federal government officials. Participants are
nominated by their governments.
Funded by the Department of Defense, the NESA Center is under the
management of the National Defense University in Washington, DC.
Approximately 40 people comprise the Center's faculty and staff.
The Center's goal is to have the region well-represented not only
among its participants, but also among faculty and research
scholars.
SOURCE:
Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies
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