Madeleine Albright to Receive the Transatlantic Award at GLOBSEC 2016

GLOBSEC 2016 will be honoured with the presence of many top politicians and decision-makers. One of its most distinguished guests will be Dr Madeleine K. Albright, former US Secretary of State. The Czech-born American politician will visit Bratislava to receive the Czech and Slovak Transatlantic Award (CSTA) for her outstanding contribution to strengthening the Euro-Atlantic relations.
Madeleine Albright was born in Prague as Marie Jana Korbelová and faced a dramatic childhood. Her family was forced to leave Czechoslovakia twice – first time due to the Nazi occupation, later due to the 1948 Communist coup d’état. At the peak of her impressive political career she became the first woman to hold the office of the US Secretary of State in the administration of President Bill Clinton. During her term she was considerably involved in the peace process in the Balkans as well as the Middle East. Furthermore, she significantly contributed to the integration of former Warsaw Pact countries into NATO. In 1997, as the autocratic regime of Vladimír Mečiar was at its peak, Dr Albright referred to Slovakia as a “black hole in the heart of Europe”.
The Czech and Slovak Transatlantic Award is jointly awarded by GLOBSEC organiser Slovak Atlantic Commission (SAC) and Czech organisation Jagello 2000. “During her career, Madeleine Albright has actively promoted democratisation and the building of freedom and stability in Central Europe,” commented SAC Managing Director Milan Solár. “Her active involvement contributed to the integration of former Eastern Bloc nations into NATO, despite the fact that many countries had been reluctant to join,” Mr Solár added.
Dr Albright shall receive her award during a Gala Dinner ceremony in Bratislava which will be a part of GLOBSEC 2016 Global Security Forum. The conference takes place on 15 – 17 April 2016.