NAPLES, Italy- A delegation of the Youth Atlantic Treaty Association (YATA) visited Allied Joint Force Command Naples on February 5. The Youth Atlantic Treaty Association (YATA) is the youth branch of the Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA).
YATA is the umbrella organization for a network of young and politically motivated leaders in 38 countries throughout the Euro-Atlantic. The Atlantic Treaty Association (ATA) is an independent organization designed to support the values enshrined in the North Atlantic Treaty. Created on 18 June 1954, an umbrella organization for the separate national associations, voluntary organizations, and non-governmental organizations formed to uphold the values of the Alliance after its creation in 1949.
The President of ATA is Prof. Fabrizio W. Luciolli. In conjunction with ATA, YATA strives to build civil society support for NATO and trans-Atlantic cooperation and draws together the young leaders of today and tomorrow in an effort to help foster the values set forth in the North Atlantic Treaty: democracy, freedom, peace, security, and the rule of law.
After a welcome by the JFC Naples Staff, the participants attended a general briefing on the NATO’s current operations and missions and its relationship with the partner nations. Moreover, the participants were able to get an overview on current topics, such as the NATO Strategic Directive South (HUB), the Joint Operations Center activities, the role of the NATO International Civilians (NIC).
It has been a great pleasure today to visit JFC Naples Headquarters
Simone Zuccarelli, YATA President said. “I thank JFC Naples community on behalf of Prof. Luciolli and all YATA members, for their warm welcome” he continued “this visit has been very stimulating. Members of YATA have a great interest in understanding how NATO and JFC Naples work to ensure peace and stability in the area of its responsibility” Zuccarelli said “YATA’s members today also appreciated the briefing which highlighted the career opportunity and internship as part of a future post-graduate job opportunity” he concluded.
As YATA regional coordinator of the Campania region Flavio Beninati said:
Today we underlined the importance of JFC Naples as a crucial instrument in implementing our academic skills,
he continued: “I hope that these initiatives will be more frequent also in the future,” he concluded.
A round table discussion with the briefers and a questions and answers session concluded the morning session.
In the afternoon, the participants had the opportunity to participate at the opening ceremony of the Freedom is not free tour exhibition. The Freedom is not Free on Tour initiative is part of the Freedom is not Free communication project sponsored by the De
Gasperi Foundation to mark NATO’s 70th anniversary. This project was the winner of the “Be part of NATO” invitation to tender published by the Public Diplomacy Division of NATO Headquarters and aims at improving the level of familiarity of the public (the younger generations, in particular) with NATO and its perceiving the Atlantic Alliance as a driver of stability and international security.
The YATA visit is part of the Public Affairs Community Relations Program to establish and strengthen the relationship with the external community in line with the #WEARENATO campaign.