HCSS Centre for Strategic Studies

The Hague Strategic Forum: Comprehensive Approach to Reconstruction and Stabilization

(09/24/09 – 09/25/09)

Thursday 24 September two senior officials from the U.S. State Department’s Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization (S/CRS) visited the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, to meet with representatives from Dutch NGO’s regarding Dutch civil activities in reconstruction and stabilization operations.

The two visitors were: Jon Benton, Acting Principal Deputy Coordinator, S/CRS and Michael Greenwald, Director of the Office of Strategic Communications, S/CRS. Our visitors gave a briefing on where their capability stands and discuss concrete ways to operationalise a comprehensive approach to overseas reconstruction and stabilization operations with Dutch civil organizations as bilateral partners or in NATO, EU, UN or OSCE contexts. The discussion mainly focused on activities in Afghanistan, Somalia, Haïti, DRC, and Somalia.