Poland’s Role In Shaping Global Security
Is Focus of Annual APAC Conference

• PostEagle
• November 17, 2014
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WASHINGTON, D.C. The American Polish Advisory Council, a DC based nonprofit which works to engage Polish Americans in the political process, announced plans for its annual conference which is scheduled to take place at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut on December 7th.

In Photo: Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich with wife Callista at the 2012 Polish American Conference in Washington, DC (Source: APAC Archives)

Entitled “Poland’s Emerging Role in Shaping Global Security & the US – Polish Partnership,” the half day conference will focus on Poland’s role in addressing new security challenges including the conflict in Ukraine as well as how the strategic relationship between Poland and the US has enabled both nations to effectively address common threats. The Council will also present a report on its efforts to include Poland in the US Visa Waiver program, an issue on which it has lobbied extensively.

After a number of successful conferences and political workshops in Washington DC and the Chicago area, this will be the first time the annual conference will be held in New England. “We are very pleased to have partnered with Yale University in organizing this year’s conference. Poland’s political transformation over the last two decades has been studied by many political scholars at Yale and we are very confident that this year’s program will be met with tremendous interest both within the Yale community and byond. Our goal is to make our events accessible to a wide audience and the University is within a short drive of some of the largest Polish American communities on the East Coast including Connecticut, New York, New Jersey or Massachusetts, said Darek Barcikowski, Executive Director at the Council.

Keynote speakers at this year’s conference include Poland’s Ambassador to the United Nations and national security expert Boguslaw Winid and Poland’s Defense Attaché in Washington Brigadier General Jaroslaw Srozyk.

In photo: Boguslaw Winid, Poland’s Ambassador to the United Nations will present the keynote address at the 2014 conference (Source: Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Boguslaw Winid served as First Secretary and later as Counsellor at the Polish Embassy in Washington, DC between 1992 and 1997 and as Deputy Chief of Mission from 2001 to 2006. Upon his return to Poland from Washington he became Undersecretary of State for Defence Policy at the Ministry of National Defence of Poland and later served as the Permanent Representative of Poland to NATO in Brussels. Since 2011 Winid has been undersecretary of state of foreign affairs for consular matters, security, and North American and Middle East policies. In August of 2014 he was appointed Ambassador to Poland’s Permanent Mission at the United Nations in New York. He is considered one of the Poland’s foremost experts on matters pertaining to national security.

BG Jaroslaw Strozyk formerly served as Deputy Director for NATO’s International Military Staff Intelligence Division and NATO’s Polish Military Representative. He was appointed as Poland’s Defense Attaché to Washington in September of 2013.

Two separate panels, entitled “Poland and Global Security: Poland’s emerging role in addressing today’s global security challenges” and “25 Years of Democracy in Poland and the US – Polish relationship: military cooperation, trade and common objectives” will focus on how the mutually beneficial relationship between the two nations has enabled both to more effectively address regional conflicts.

Panel presenters include Thomas Sherlock, professor of political science at West Point Military Academy, Susan Bysiewicz, Connecticut Secretary of State from 1999 to 2011, Elzbieta Matynia, director of the Transregional Center for Democratic Studies at the New School and Sabina Klimek, head of the Trade & Investment Section at the Polish Consulate in New York.

In photo: Speakers applaud APAC’s President Gen. Edward Rowny at the 2013 Political Workshop at the University of Chicago. (Source: APAC Archives)

“We are excited about the speaker line up for this year’s conference,” said General Edward Rowny, President of the American Polish Advisory Council. “Over the last decade, Poland has played a pivotal role in addressing regional and global security challenges including the commitment of troops to Iraq and Afghanistan. It has been on the frontline of combatting threats not only to its own security, but also those facing the European continent and the United States. Poland’s major role in security issues will be discussed by some of the foremost experts in the field.”

The conference will take place at the prestigious Henry R. Luce Hall at 34 Hillhouse Avenue in New Haven from 12 noon to 4 pm. Check in and lunch will begin at 11am. Preregistration is required and can be completed at www.apacouncil.info.

A fundraiser dinner with conference speakers will follow at the private Graduate Club.

In photo: Poland’s Ambassador to the US Ryszard Schnepf speaks at the 2012 annual conference in Washington DC (Source: APAC Archives)

The Washington DC based American Polish Advisory Council strives to involve Polish Americans in the political process, increase the number, visibility and influence of Polish Americans in public affairs, and improve communications among Polish Americans holding appointed and elective office or involved in public service campaigns and public policy. The Council’s annual conferences attract community leaders, politicians, entrepreneurs and students from across the country and are designed to foster dialogue on issues of paramount importance to Polish Americans as well as those that shape Polish – US relations.

More information about the 2014 conference or any of the Council’s activities can be obtained by visiting www.apacouncil.info or contacting the organization’s Executive Director, Darek Barcikowski, at barcikowski@americanpolishcouncil.org or 617-869-0601. The APAC headquarters is located 2025 O Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20036.

In photo: Andrew Nagorski, journalist, editor and best-selling author, addresses the 2013 annual conference held at the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC (Source: APAC Archives)