DAYTON, OHIO – Today, Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10) joined University of Dayton (UD) President Eric Spina for a press conference at the Roger Glass Center for the Arts announcing the unveiling of public forum programming at UD on the sidelines of the 2025 NATO Parliamentary Assembly Spring Session. The programming will feature thought-based discussions with high-level elected officials, security and policy experts, and local leaders from across the NATO countries. The conversation will be anchored by the historic Dayton Peace Accords and focus on the current tenuous situation in the Balkans, highlighting the need for the transatlantic alliance to work together towards a lasting peace.
The introduction of a public forum alongside the official NATO PA event marks a unique addition to this year's Spring Session, providing an opportunity for the entire Dayton community to come together and highlight the city's role as a dynamic, world-class hub on the global stage.
“This is incredibly important,” said Congressman Turner. “We will look to what occurred here 30 years ago for the Dayton Peace Accords, but also the importance of ‘What do we do now?’ as we look to the peace that was established in the Balkans. We still have a responsibility for the peace going forward.”
“Thank you, Congressman Turner, for your leadership locally, nationally, and internationally,” said President Spina. “We think about the cities that have hosted this Parliamentary Assembly over time – Luxembourg City, Montréal, Sofia, and Copenhagen. We can now put Dayton on that list as well. It wouldn't happen without your leadership and the respect you've gained nationally and internationally. Thank you for giving the University of Dayton a chance to host a part of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly here at the Roger Glass Center for the Arts.”
Background:
The public forum, titled “The Dayton Dialogue: Conversations about Peace & Security in the Balkans,” will feature three panels per day from May 22-25 at the Roger Glass Center for the Arts. Themes for each day include:
• Thursday – NATO's Role in the Transatlantic Relationship
• Friday – Dayton Accords 30 Years Later – A Historical Look Back
• Saturday – Dayton Today for the Balkans Present & Future
• Sunday – Cultural & Societal Ties that Strengthen Relationships
Think Tanks & Organizations sponsoring various panels:
• Atlantic Council
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• Dayton Development Coalition
• German Marshall Fund
• National Endowment for Democracy
• New Lines Institute