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From left to right: Dr Roger Hamlin, Dr. Calin Hintea, Mr. Powell A. Moore and Dr. Tudor Vlad. |
Conference on the Role of Education in Regional Security in Central Europe
Powell A. Moore, an expert in national security and international relations, said Russia should not fear the proposed U.S. missile shield during his keynote speech at a conference in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, in May.
The conference on the role of education and of the U.S.-Romania strategic partnership for the security in East and Central Europe was organized by the James M. Cox Jr. Center for International Mass Communication Training and Research at the University of Georgia and by the College of Political, Administrative and Communication Studies at Babes-Bolyai University.
“Russia should not be concerned about the missile shield, as it has been designed as an entirely defensive weapon,” Powell told an audience of 50 faculty members, graduate students and journalists. “And the Russians know that, but they are using this as an opportunity to be more aggressive and to destabilize the region.”
Moore served as assistant secretary of defense for legislative affairs under President George W. Bush and subsequently was the representative of the U.S. Secretary of Defense to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, based in Vienna.
The other speakers in the program were Dr. Calin Hintea, dean of CPACS, Dr. Roger Hamlin, professor of urban planning and public administration at Michigan State University, and Dr. Tudor Vlad, associate director of the Cox International Center.
“In the long term, education is one of the crucial factors for stability and prosperity in the region,” Dr. Vlad said. “It leads to better government, less corruption, and more informed citizens. People need to understand why funding and supporting higher education programs is a valuable investment.”
Dean Hintea spoke about the progress that has been made in the creation of the Romanian‑American educational hub at Babes-Bolyai University, based on the collaboration among CPACS, the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, the Cox International Center and the School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Georgia.
Moore also spoke about the relationship between regional security and economic development at a meeting with representatives of the business community in Cluj-Napoca. “I am confident that, after Ford, more American major investors will come to Romania, if they can be reassured that there is a good legal framework for business here and that they don’t have to face a corrupt bureaucracy.”
Ford Romania is an automobile manufacturing company located in Craiova, Romania, operated by Ford of Europe.
Moore is a member of the Board of Visitors of the Cox International Center.
The program in Cluj-Napoca included a reception hosted by dean Hintea, a lunch offered by mayor Emil Boc, former prime minister of the Romanian government, and a meeting with Dr. Ioan-Aurel Pop, BBU rector.
During the trip to Romania, Dr. Vlad also had a meeting in Bucharest with Ms. Roxana Vitan, president of the Romanian‑American Foundation, and with Ms. Suzana Dobre, program director for the foundation. The Romanian‑American Foundation grew out of the Romanian‑American Enterprise Fund. The establishment of the Foundation was made possible by the success of the Romanian‑American Enterprise Fund in more than 15 years of active presence in the country.
Dr. Vlad learned about the goals and projects of the foundation and discussed Cox International Center initiatives in journalism and mass communication training in Romania and in East and Central Europe.
