Press Releases
Working Together to Enhance Regional Security
Colombo, June 25, 2009: Colombo was the venue for a conference on June 22-24 organized by the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center and the Regional Network of Strategic Centers (RNSSC) to discuss regional approaches in meeting non-traditional security challenges and enhancing boarder security. The conference, hosted by the Government of Sri Lanka, with support from the U.S. Department of Defense, brought together representatives from countries throughout South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. Participants discussed common security challenges and mapped out a strategy to promote future collaborative research, publications, and projects. The conference is part of a larger project organized by NESA and RNSSC that aims to develop common practices in natural and man-made disaster management and policy options for dealing with security challenges. The NESA Center, which is part of the United State Government's National Defense University, aims to enhance security in the Near East and South Asia by fostering regional cooperation on security issues.
During the conference, U.S. Embassy Defense Attaché Lawrence Smith hosted a reception for alumni of the Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies. The event enabled Sri Lankan alumni from the Sri Lankan government and military to reconnect and strengthen existing relationships with other graduates of NESA programs.
During remarks at the reception, U.S. Embassy Chargé d'Affaires James Moore commented, "NESA has created a network that broadens the foundations of official and unofficial regional defense relationships and assists the evolution of regional institutions to meet new security challenges, including terrorism and other transnational threats. The United States is proud to work with alumni from Sri Lanka and other partners on this important initiative."