U.S. Rep. Mike Turner Highlights Sinclair Community College's Role in Diplomacy During NATO Parliamentary Assembly Spring Session

This past weekend, while the NATO Parliamentary Assembly was taking place in downtown Dayton, Sinclair Community College played a pivotal and confidential role in diplomatic discussions. Throughout Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Sinclair’s Building 12, the David H. Ponitz Sinclair Conference Center, served as host for the heads of state and diplomats from the Balkan countries to have discussions with one another, as well as both U.S. and E.U. officials.

“Sinclair provided a safe, secure, and private environment for diplomatic discussions between the presidents, ministers, and other officials with Balkan countries, three decades after the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords, which ended the Bosnian war,” said Dr. Steve Johnson, President and CEO of Sinclair Community College.

U.S. Representative Mike Turner, who was instrumental in bringing the NATO Parliamentary Assembly to Dayton, joined Dr. Steve Johnson today at Sinclair’s Building 12, for a press conference to discuss how these diplomatic discussions came together, Sinclair’s role in making this possible, and the impact this will have for the Dayton region.

“Sinclair College played a critical, yet intentionally quiet role in fostering an opportunity for high-level diplomacy and negotiations during the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Spring Session. I appreciate Dr. Johnson and Sinclair’s team for taking on the consequential task of hosting Heads of State from the Balkan countries and senior U.S. government officials, including the U.S. Congressional delegation, for these discussions,” said Congressman Mike Turner. "Sinclar’s generosity was instrumental in shaping discussions on international diplomacy, as well as key issues facing NATO today, such as security, transatlantic cooperation, trade, and countering malign influences in the Balkans."

These discussions, which were not part of the official NATO Parliamentary Assembly events, were instrumental in shaping discussions on transatlantic security and advancing democratic stability in the Balkans. Building 12 was closed to the public May 22-26, with around 200 attendees who visited Sinclair over the weekend.

Diplomats from countries including Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia met for discussions with government officials from the U.S. State Department and Congress, including U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, as well as U.S. Representative Mike Turner, U.S. Rep. Linda Sanchez, and U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson.

The officials who attended these meetings at Sinclair included: Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia & Herzegovina Željka Cvijanovi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia & Herzegovina Elmedin Konakovi, President of Croatia Andrej Plenkovi, President of Montenegro Jakov Milatovi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Marko Duric, President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, President of Albania Bajram Begaj, President of European Parliament Roberta Metsola, as well as Special Envoys from the U.K. and France.

A variety of factors led to the decision to have these confidential, diplomatic discussions hosted at Sinclair Community College’s Building 12. In addition to its proximity to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s “NATO Village,” Sinclair’s Building 12 offers a conference center that is full-service with numerous room configurations, media & technology services, as well as space to spread out to provide each delegation, including the U.S. State Department, with their own private office for staff and diplomats. Sinclair’s own Police Department provided dedicated police officers to work with on-site United States Secret Service, Diplomatic Security Service, Ohio BCI, State Police, U.S. Marines, and U.S. Air Force officials, to maintain a secure environment for the heads of state.

“Sinclair strives to be a useful asset to the Dayton region,” Dr. Johnson continued. “Business, cultural, and educational contacts and connections are very important. Sinclair, of course, supports the cause of peace. We believe education is key to prosperity, education is key to peace, and education is key to living a good life. Thank you to the delegations who visited Dayton, Ohio, to Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, and thank you to Congressman Mike Turner for your vision and efforts with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly.”