By Christine June
Public Affairs Office
George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

KYIV, UKRAINE (March 21, 2016) -  The George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies convened a three-day seminar for Ukraine senior leaders and members of the General Staff to examine and discuss defense and government agency reform at the Rada from March 21 to 23.

This is the third seminar requested by the Ukrainian government to bring together its senior government officials and members of the General Staff. 

This is the first seminar held in Kyiv.  The previous two seminars were held at the Marshall Center in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.

The seminar was planned by Marshall Center’s Program on Black Sea-Eurasia team, guided by Dr. Valbona Zeneli, the program’s director. 

Moderated discussions between Ukrainian leadership and leading subject matter experts are designed to strengthen cooperative approaches in defense reform and coordination between Ukraine’s governmental agencies and the military. 

“I have said often the most significant aspect of our security sector support to the Ukrainian people is the training effort we are undertaking," said U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt during his welcoming remarks. "But, in many ways this series of seminars working with the Rada is a complement and a natural part of the larger effort to build a modern NATO-standard defense and security capability in Ukraine."

Other distinguished speakers include Deputy Chief of Mission, German Embassy in Ukraine Wolfgang Bindseil; and Vice Speaker Verkhova Rada, Parliament of Ukraine Oksana Syroid.

(German Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Mark Winkler assisted with this article.)