Canada: Whether the Lester B. Pearson Peacekeeping Centre conducted a training session entitled "Co-operative Osprey" in March 2001; what is "Co-operative Osprey"; who is eligible to participate in the course; skills and knowledge that is acquired on completion of the course

According to a press release from North American Treaty Organization's (NATO) Website, the aim of Cooperative Osprey 2001 in March 2001 was to

conduct a United Nations mandated, NATO-led Command Post Exercise designed to improve the interoperability of participating nations, and to train military personnel from partner nations in NATO peace support operations. Participants will become familiar with NATO mission analysis and other NATO procedures. The exercise will also practice and further integrate partner nations to promote greater mutual understanding and cooperation among all countries through the use of a computer-assisted training environment.

Six NATO nations (Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United States of America) are expected to participate together with thirteen partner nations (Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Krghyz Republic, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, and the Ukraine). Three Mediterranean Dialogue nations will participate as military observers (Algeria, Jordan, and Mauritania) (27 Feb. 2001).

The then Secretary of Defence for the United States, William S. Cohen, stated in an address to the Senate Committee on Armed Services on 23 April 1997 that

Exercises like Cooperative Nugget and Cooperative Osprey, hosted annually by the U.S. and consisting of practical small unit field training for peacekeeping and humanitarian relief, provide potential members with valuable interoperability experience and familiarity with NATO military practices and terminology (NATO 7 Mar. 2001).

The NATO press release further states that the exercise was to last from 1 to 9 March 2001 and that "150 military personnel from 19 nations will participate in a multinational NATO Command Post Exercise" at the Lester B. Pearson Canadian International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Clemetsport, Nova Scotia (ibid.). An Exercise Development Officer at Lester B. Pearson Peacekeeping Centre confirmed during a telephone interview on 16 July 2002 that there was a training session at that time called Cooperative Osprey (16 July 2002).

The officer stated that invited participants must be from a military command organization, a non-governmental organization, the UN, the Canadian government or another participating government (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Lester B. Pearson Peacekeeping Centre, Clementsport, Nova Scotia. 16 July 2002. Telephone interview with Exercise Development Officer.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). 7 March 2001. The US Mission to NATO. Senate Committee on Armed Services. "Testimony of Honorable William S. Cohen." [Accessed 17 July 2002]

_____. 27 February 2001. "Exercise Cooperative Osprey 2001." NATO International Military Staff Press Release. [Accessed 17 July 2002]