PPC Signs MOU with Peacekeeping Centre in Chile

The Pearson Peacekeeping Centre (PPC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Chilean Joint Centre for Peace Operations (Centro Conjunto para Operaciones de Paz de Chile (CECOPAC). The MOU commits both centres to collaborate in the development and delivery of their programmes.

The signing ceremony took place in Santiago de Chile on 29 November 2002, and was witnessed by the Chilean Minister of National Defence, Michelle Bachelet. Signing were Sandra Dunsmore, President of the PPC, and Colonel Carl Marowski, Director of CECOPAC.

The PPC has delivered programmes in Latin America since 1998. The agreement with CECOPAC strengthens its ability to work in the region. Other counterparts have included the Argentine Peacekeeping Training Centre, CAECOPAZ, the United Nations University for Peace in Costa Rica and the Inter-American Defense College in Washington, DC. The PPC also regularly has Latin American participants on its courses in Canada.

In her address, Minister Bachelet stated that Chile will increase its involvement in international peace operations and that the creation of CECOPAC was an expression of the political will of the Chilean government to achieve this objective.
http://www.defensa.cl/paginas/public/ noticias/2002/29.11.2002operacion_de_paz.htm (Note: This link will take you to a Spanish-language site.)

The signing ceremony came at the end of course CX-30, In the Service of Peace, which the PPC delivered in Chile on behalf of Canada's Department of National Defence. The course was attended by 27 Chilean students from military, police and civilian organizations. Its objective was to prepare participants for future participation in a United Nations Peace Operation.

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