Webcast | Putin’s Russia: Partner or Adversary? Amb John Beyrle

As one of the 100 member strong network of World Affairs Councils of America we are pleased to occasionally offer our members access to programs of other Councils. Today we have for your consideration an invitation from the Columbus Council on World Affairs for a live web cast session with America’s most recent ambassador to the Russian Federation, Amb John Beyrle. Thanks to our colleagues in Columbus for sharing.

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Greetings from the Columbus Council on World Affairs!

On April 11 at 12:00pm EDT, we will be livestreaming an event that may be of interest to your members.

It is free! We hope that you will share this information with others:

April 11, 2013
12:00-1:00pm EDT
Free Webcast

Putin’s Russia: Partner or Adversary?

John Beyrle, U.S. Ambassador to Russia, 2008-2012

Register here to receive a reminder e-mail containing the livestream link prior to the webcast.

**Please note that this webcast will appear at the top of the list of archived events. You will need to click on the box labeled as “Putin’s Russia: Partner or Adversary?” in order to access the live video.**

U.S. relations with Russia are critical to the success of President Obama’s second term foreign policy agenda. From the crisis in Syria to Iran’s nuclear program and North Korea’s sabre rattling to the U.S. exit from Afghanistan, Russia’s President Putin has the ability to help or hurt the Obama administration’s objectives. Despite President Obama’s first term attempt to “reset” relations, recent events have indicated a downward spiral in the state of the relationship–with the U.S. imposing travel and financial restrictions on Russians accused of human rights abuses and Russia’s expulsion of the U.S. Agency for International Development and ban on American adoptions of Russian children. What is the outlook for the relationship? Is Putin’s Russia a partner or an adversary?

John Beyrle served as an American diplomat for more than three decades in foreign postings and domestic assignments focused on Central and Eastern Europe, the Soviet Union, and Russia. He was twice appointed ambassador: to Bulgaria (2005-08), and to Russia (2008-12). During the latter assignment he led the implementation of policies leading to improved U.S.-Russian relations, highlighted by the signing of the START nuclear arms reduction treaty, Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization, and liberalized visa protocols.

Ambassador Beyrle is the recipient of the Presidential Meritorious Service Award and the Distinguished Service Award and the Distinguished Service Award, the State Department’s highest honor. He retired from the Foreign Service in 2012, and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the U.S.-Russia Foundation, and provides consulting services to corporate clients.

This event is presented by the Columbus Council on World Affairs and sponsored by OSU – Center for Slavic and East European Studies and OSU – Mershon Center for International Security Studies.

Best,

Shannon McAfee
Director of Public Programs
The Columbus Council on World Affairs
Tel: 614 229 4599 X 402