Lectures and Trainings

   

Public Lecture – “Current Affairs”

On August 30, 2005 the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies   hosted Amb. Robert Hunter, Senior Adviser at the RAND Corporation and former U.S. Ambassador to NATO.  Amb. Hunter delivered the lecture in front of the large audience of young professionals, academics, journalists and government officials. 

 In his lecture “Current Affairs,” Ambassador Hunter  covered a wide variety of topics including U.S. strategic challenges in the Middle East, combating terrorism, and the overall shape of the world system in the 21st century.  Amb. Hunter discussed the events surrounding 9/11 and America’s reaction to it. Due to this catastrophic attack on the American homeland, a large portion of American foreign policy is now concentrated around the homeland security.  He acknowledged that, although trying to get rid of all terrorists is a futile effort, U.S. policymakers would have to spare no effort in preventing terrorist from acquiring new technology, especially the weapons of mass destruction.

Amb. Hunter noted the importance of Georgia maintaining its democratic path. The visit of President Bush in 2005 was the reinforcement of U.S support for the Rose Revolution and the message to Russian’s that they have no right to any manipulation.  

After a lengthy discussion, the guest speaker fielded questions from the audience about Russia, Iran, Islamic fundamentalism and his vision of the world in 10-50 years.   Amb. Hunter’s final note was that the future of the country was not in the hands of the outside powers like the United States and Russia, but in the internal decisions and reforms made by a new generation of Georgian leaders.