Cairo hosts International Peacekeeping Training for first time

CAIRO – 11 September 2017: Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry inaugurates on Monday the 23rd annual conference of the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centers (IAPTC) in Cairo from September 11 to 14.

The gathering, held in a Middle East country for the first time, will bring together 300 senior officials and representatives.

The Foreign Ministry's spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said that holding the conference in Egypt affirms its key role in the peacekeeping field, citing that Egypt is the third highest contributor of military experts and the fifth provider of police troops. Egypt also ranks seventh among the major players in peacekeeping missions, he added.

Cairo also plays key role in developing the doctrines, concepts and policies of peacekeeping through its membership at the UN Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council, said the spokesman.


Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shourky inaugurates the 23rd annual conference of the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centers in Cairo- Press Photo

The IAPTC is an open and voluntary association of centers, institutions, and programs dealing with peace operations research, education, and training. It was initiated by Canada’s Pearson Peacekeeping Center (PPC) in 1995.

The IAPTC promotes better understanding of peacekeeping, its goals and objectives, and of the methods used in training for peace operations of all types. It is intended to broaden contacts between various international organizations, peacekeeping training centers and institutions, universities, and other interested groups, leading to more effective peace operations.

The Pearson Peacekeeping Center provided the original secretariat of the IAPTC, supporting the host nation or organization of each annual conference as required, maintaining a database of participants, providing professional advice in relation to the annual conference themes, and maintaining the IAPTC website. These duties, as of 2017, have been taken over by the Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping & Peacebuilding (CCCPA), Egypt.