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

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (April 14, 2016) - On the eve of the GLOBESEC Security Conference, the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies hosted an Alumni gathering that provided Slovak Marshall Center alumni, visiting scholars, Marshall Center faculty, and other international security stakeholders an opportunity to discuss topics and exchange viewpoints relevant to today’s challenging security environment.

This Alumni Outreach Networking event, supported by the Embassies of Germany and the United States, and held at the Goethe Institute in Bratislava, celebrated the more than 160 Slovak graduates of various Marshall Center programs since its foundation in 1993. Opening remarks were provided by Mr. Chris Burelli from the Marshall Center, who introduced a round-table panel chaired by Mr. Marian Majer, Director of the Slovak Security Policy Institute, and 2004 graduate of the Leaders of the 21st Century course. Sitting on the panel were Ambassador Igor Slobodnik from the Slovak Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, and Mr. Milan Šuplata, Senior Fellow from the Central European Policy Institute.

The alumni discussion panel and the event’s other follow-on engagements highlight not only the bilateral commitment of Germany and the United States to the Marshall Center, but also the tangible effects the Center has had on shaping Allied partners’ understanding of the security environment, and informing the public about NATO’s vital and increasing role in ensuring peace and stability in the European theater.