By Barbara Wither
Alumni Programs
George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

BELGRADE, SERBIA (March 25, 2015) – The George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies’ Strategic Communications for Security Seminar kicked off March 25.

The seminar opened with remarks by the German Ambassador Heinz Wilhelm and the U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Gordon Duguid.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic gave the keynote address on security and freedom of expression. She highlighted democratic values as the key component of media freedom and emphasizing that security needs should not undermine freedom of expression.

The one and a half day seminar aimed to facilitate the sharing of experience and best practice in the development of security-related strategic communications.

Strategic communication topics included the changing media landscape, implementation and capacity building, Euro-Atlantic integration and crises management.

Serbian participants come from the Ministries of Defense, Interior and Foreign Affairs, as well as the University of Belgrade.

Later in the evening, the Marshall Center Alumni Programs organized an Outreach Networking Event for area alumni. These alumni events are conducted with area alumni to sustain and strengthen the alumni network. Approximately 30 such events are conducted annually in the region and range in size from 10 to 250 attendees.

The Marshall Center Alumni will often conduct ONEs in coordination with the Marshall Center Outreach Programs, such as this seminar.

The Marshall Center offers non-resident programs on critical security and defense issues to the widest possible audiences within partner nations and responds to the needs of stakeholders for special focused events. The Marshall Center develops and conducts more than 100 non-resident programs a year.

The mission of the Marshall Center, as a vital instrument of German-American cooperation, is to create a more stable security environment by advancing democratic institutions and relationships; promoting active, peaceful, whole-of-government approaches to address transnational and regional security challenges; and, creating and enhancing enduring partnerships worldwide.