The George C. Marshall Alumni Union - Georgia held a roundtable focused on strategic and operational issues in NATO Nov. 1 at the Ilia Chavchavadze State University in Tbilisi. Approximately 60 government officials, NGO representatives, and university students attended the roundtable, including approximately 30 Marshall Center alumni. Attendees included specialists from the Ministries of Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Interior; Parliament; the National Security Council; and other government agencies and academia. Prof. John Kriendler, Marshall Center Professor of NATO and European Security Issues, spoke on NATO decision making; Marshall Center Professor Dr. Dragan Lozancic addressed the process of moving from PfP to NATO membership, and Dr. Ralf Roloff, Marshall Center Senior German Professor, spoke on NATO-Russia relations. All three lectures were followed by question and answer periods. Marshall Center alumnus Prof. Henry Kuprashvili also made comments based on his articles on NATO issues published in local newspapers. Dr. Nika Chitadze, President of the Alumni Union, opened the roundtable, moderated and made closing remarks.

This roundtable was the fourth Marshall Center alumni in Georgia have held since 2005. The other three, held in May 2005, June 2006, and April 2007, addressed Georgian foreign policy and national security priorities, crisis management and interagency coordination, and terrorist and counterterrorist structures and methods. These events contribute to the Georgian alumni’s efforts to continue to network with each other and with the Marshall Center, to build interministerial cooperation, and to inform their colleagues and the public on complex security issues.

Click to enlarge Dr. Nika Chitadze (standing), President of the Alumni Union (LC 1999-2) opens the roundtable as (l to r) Dr. Lozancic, Prof. Kriendler, and Dr. Roloff prepare to make their presentations.	Click to enlarge Participants were from various ministries, the National Security Council, Parliament, and academia.	Click to enlarge Prof. John Kriendler (center) speaks on NATO decision making.
Click to enlarge The Marshall Center thanks Dr. Chitadze for organizing the event and the Ilia Chavchavadze State University for providing the conference room.	Click to enlarge While in Tbilisi, the professors also conducted a Marshall Center Regional Education Team Seminar (RETS) outreach event with participants from various Georgian ministries and offices.	Click to enlarge Dr. Dragan Lozancic (left) presents “From PfP to NATO Membership.”
Click to enlarge Dr. Ralf Roloff (right) discusses NATO-Russia relations.	Click to enlarge Alumnus Prof. Henry Kuprashvili (SES 2002-2) comments on NATO issues.	Click to enlarge Mr. Joseph Embler, Marshall Center Graduate Support Program, updates the alumni about changes in the program.
Click to enlarge Alumni and others in the audience listened intently and had many interesting questions for the professors.	Click to enlarge LTC Paul Riley (left) and alumnus Mr. Lavrenti Geradze (EP 2003-5) enjoying a moment after the event.	Click to enlarge Some of the participants pose for a photo with the professors: (l to r) Dr. Lozancic, Ms. Tamta Beriashvili (EPASS 2006-4), Col. Vakhtang Datunashvili (EPASS 2007-4), Mr. Temur Gabisonia (LPASS 2005-1), LTC Riley, Dr. Tea Tarielashvili (LPASS 2007-1), Mr. Zurab Antadze (EPASS 2007-1), Prof. Kriendler, Mr. Tamar Abashidze (LPASS 2007-4), and Dr. Roloff.