Ambassadors gain insights into Pacific regional security

Thursday 30 November 2017

Ambassadors and senior diplomats from Europe and Israel visited Massey University's Wellington campus for roundtable discussions on security matters in the Pacific region.

Ambassadors gain insights into Pacific regional security - image1
Last updated: Thursday 1 December 2022

Ambassadors and diplomats from European countries with Massey University staff who were all part of regional security discussions at the Wellington campus. Back row from left: Professor Rouben Azizian, French Embassy intern Thibault Bladek , Oke Carstensen (EU Embassy), Professor David Johnston from the Joint Centre for Disaster Research, Polish Ambassador Zbigniew Gniatkowski, Netherlands Ambassador Robert Zaagman, Spanish Deputy Ambassador Vicente Mas. Front row from left: Anne-Marie Ngan (PaCE), Dr Germana Nicklin (CDSS), Dr Anna Powles (CDSS), EU Ambassador Bernard Savage, Israeli Ambassador Dr Itzhak Gerberg, Professor Jane Mills (College of Health Pro Vice-Chancellor).                                  

Ambassadors and senior diplomats from Europe and Israel visited Massey University’s Wellington campus for roundtable discussions on security matters in the Pacific region.

The purpose of the roundtable organised by the Centre for Defence and Security Studies (CDSS) and the Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE), provided an opportunity for Wellington-based diplomats to exchange ideas with Massey specialists on security, development and crisis management in the Pacific region.

The meeting was chaired by CDSS director Professor Rouben Azizian, who says the group discussion was one of several he hopes Massey will host in the future for diplomatic representatives from other regions such as Latin America, the Middle East and South-East Asia.

The inaugural dialogue with European diplomats proceeded from shared interests in democratic values as well as comprehensive perspectives on regional security, Professor Azizian says.

“In spite of their geographic distance, Europe and the European Union are significant players in the overall development and security matters of the region,” he says.

“ They are interested in stability and good governance in the region, and view New Zealand as an important partner in supporting Pacific nations in their many challenges such as climate change, resource protection and transnational crime.”

The discussions also provided the diplomats with an opportunity to identify areas of potential cooperation between Massey and their respective academic organisations, especially those conducting research about the Pacific region.