Why Europe Matters

The EU and US are the biggest economic and military powers in the world. Together, they dominate the global market and lead the world’s political relations.

Europe is currently facing a headwind of complex policy issues including shortcomings in the eurozone’s setup, the lingering social and political repercussions of the financial and migration crises, and the ongoing competition among global superpowers. Without a swift and unified approach, these developments could reshape the institutions and relationships that have far-reaching global implications.

After 35 years of experience as a diplomat, Ambassador John Kornblum is a leading expert on transatlantic affairs and the evolving role of Europe in a multi-polar world. Join us as Ambassador Kornblum shares his insight on Europe’s geopolitical reach, as well as the way forward for the continent.

Sponsored by 

 

Date:
Thursday, September 12, 2019
Location:
Myers Park Country Club
2415 Roswell Ave
Charlotte, NC 28209 – Directions
Check-In and VIP Reception
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Lunch & Discussion
12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Cost:
*$30 WACC student/educator/TMS member
*You must be an individual WACC educator/student/TMS member to qualify for the $35 rate
$45 WACC or ACG Member Rate
$60 Non-Member Rate 

   

Become-a-Member

 

           

 

  • Register online
  • Credit card payments (non-PayPal transactions): Please call 704-687-7762 for payment processing over the phone
  • Check payments: Please make your check payable to “World Affairs Council of Charlotte” and mail it to the following address:

World Affairs Council of Charlotte
UNC Charlotte – CHHS 227
9201 University City Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28223

All reservation cancellations must be completed at least 3 business days prior to an event for a full refund. Pease let us know in advance if you have dietary restrictions so that we can make the appropriate accommodations.

Biography

On May 21, 1997 President Clinton nominated John C. Kornblum as Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany. Ambassador Kornblum currently serves as the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs and has been the special envoy for the Dayton Peace Agreement. For his outstanding service on the Balkan crisis Ambassador Kornblum was presented the Secretary’s Award in 1996. Ambassador John Kornblum has enjoyed a distinguished career in the United States Foreign Service which began in 1964, shortly after his graduation from Michigan State University. As a junior officer he served in Hamburg and Washington.

He was then assigned to Bonn as Political Officer in 1969, where he served as action officer for Berlin in addition to being a member of the United States Delegation to the Four Power negotiations. In 1973, Ambassador Kornblum returned to Washington, D.C., where he held a series of policy related positions, first as a member of the Policy Planning Staff and later as Office Director for European Regional Political Affairs. From 1979 to 1981 Ambassador Kornblum served as the Political Advisor at the United States Mission in Berlin. He was then appointed in July 1981 Director of the Office of Central European Affairs in the Department of State. Ambassador Kornblum returned to Berlin in August 1985 as United States Minister and Deputy Commandant.

After two years in Berlin he was chosen to be the United States Deputy Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, located in Brussels. President Bush nominated John Kornblum to be U.S. Ambassador to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. The U.S. Senate confirmed his appointment on October 19, 1991. In this capacity Ambassador Kornblum served as chief of the American delegation to the 1992 Helsinki Review Conference and played a major role in drafting the Declaration approved at the July 1992 Helsinki Summit. Ambassador Kornblum established the new American delegation to the CSCE in Vienna in August 1992 where he served until April 1994.

Ambassador Kornblum was appointed Senior Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs in June 1994 and served in this capacity until his nomination to be Assistant Secretary in February of 1996. During his service in the European Bureau Ambassador Kornblum was one of the architects of the Dayton Peace Agreement and played a central role in conceiving the Administration’s strategy for a new security structure in Europe.

Ambassador Kornblum is married to Helen Sen and is the father of two sons: Alexander (born in 1988) and Stephen (born in 1990)