On November 1, 1996, the Hungarian Parliament held an international conference on "Security and Disarmament in Europe -- The Role of Inter-Governmental institutions and NGO's." CEP Visiting Faculty Fellow Colette Mazzucelli was among the impressive array of keynote speakers to address the audience, which comprised members the Special NGO Committee on Disarmament based a the United Nations in Geneva and other European members of its network. Mazzucelli spoke on "American Perspectives on European Security Since the Transition." Other speakers included the Hungarian Deputy State Secretary in the Foreign Ministry and the Russian Counselor on Political Affairs at the Russian Embassy in Budapest.

Mazzucelli, who was invited to give the presentation by the Director of the European House, Budapest, is no newcomer to the issues of the conference. In 1987, she interned at the United Nations Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, and in 1988, served as an intern in the Department for Disarmament Affairs (DDA) at the United Nations in New York.

"I enjoyed the conference presentation very much," Mazzucelli commented. "My presentation was a subject of debate because of its emphasis on NATO. Trying to present this topic to a group of experts on disarmament is an exercise in diplomacy." Conference participants were able to engage in formal and informal discussions throughout the entire weekend, although conversation ceased briefly during their visit to the Hungarian State Opera for a performance of Verdi's Requiem.

Proceedings of the conference, including keynote presentations, were sent to international organizations and member governments by the Committee on Disarmament. Mazzucelli felt that her "role as a CEP Lecturer was valuable because I could draw on my background teaching in the region and yet also bring in my knowledge gained in previous experiences in Geneva and New York." She will remain in touch with several conference participants who are teaching and conducting research in Central and Eastern Europe, and looks forward to using the Internet and video conference technology to deepen future cooperation and dialogue among those concerned with conflict resolution issues.

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