Remarks by
H.E. Claudio Bisogniero
Italian Ambassador to the US
Former Deputy Secretary General of NATO

The Hon. Daniel Fried
Coordinator for Sanctions Policy
US State Department

Panel Discussion with
H. E. Sven Alkalaj
Former Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Former Ambassador to NATO

Ms. Debra Cagan
Senior State Dept. Fellow
Center for Transatlantic Relations, Johns Hopkins University

Mr. Lorenz Meyer-Minnemann
Officer for NATO and Multilateral Affairs, Political Affairs and Security Policy Division
NATO

Mr. James J. Townsend, Jr. 
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy
US Department of Defense

Mr. Tugay Tuncer
Deputy Chief of Mission
Turkish Embassy to the US
Former NATO Head of Liaison Office for Central Asia

Moderated by
Mr. Damon Wilson
Executive Vice President
Atlantic Council
 

 

Robert (“Bob”) Simmons, an architect of US policy on European security and one of the longest serving US officials at NATO, passed away on Christmas Eve 2013. On the eve of his memorial service in Washington, the Atlantic Council is hosting a special tribute to the legacy of Simmons' career. The Council invites those who knew Bob, knew of the impact of his work, or shared his passion for NATO to join us for a discussion on the issues to which he dedicated his life – the Alliance, transatlantic relations, and building a Europe "whole and free."

The event will feature keynote remarks from Italian Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero, former deputy secretary general of NATO and Ambassador Daniel Fried, coordinator for sanctions policy at the US State Department.

We will continue the conversation with a panel discussion with some of Bob's former NATO colleagues: H.E. Sven Alkalaj, former foreign minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina and former Bosnian ambassador to NATO; Ms. Debra Cagan, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for coalition and multinational operations; Mr. Lorenz Meyer-Minnemann, officer for NATO and multilateral affairs, Political Affairs and Security Policy Division at NATO headquarters; Mr. James J. Townsend, Jr. deputy assistant secretary of defense for European and NATO policy; and Mr. Tugay Tuncer, deputy chief of mission at the Turkish Embassy to the US and former head of the NATO Liaison Office in Central Asia. Council Executive Vice President Damon Wilson, a long-time friend and colleague of Bob's, will moderate the event.