Guest Speech of the Ambassador of the USA; H.E. Gregory Schulte

As a continuation of excellent cooperation with the Amerika Haus (distinguished authors; prof. Burke, prof. Balmer, prof. Rakove) and the US Embassy Vienna (the US Secretary Chao and Ambassador Ms. Susan Mc Caw visit), the IMC Export Department, under the auspices of the Chair for International, Legal and Global Political Studies, was inviting the Chief of the US Mission to the UN Vienna and IAEA, Ambassador Gregory Schulte for a visit and guest lecture on 22nd October 2007. The Ambassador gave an excellent overview on the currents in the US Security Policy, role and current activities of the Atomic Energy Agency, as well as the US positions in major Vienna-based UN entities (such as IAEA, ODC, UNITRAL, OOSA, CTBTO, etc.). His presentation was followed by long discussions with students and professors, and by a small cocktail reception.

Ambassador Schulte remarks offered the IMC Export Fellows a unique opportunity to gain insights into the trans-Atlantic security ties and its recent political dynamics. Answering the students’ questions, H.E. Schulte shared the US policy views on issues like: Middle East, Central-Eastern Europe (Poland and Check Republic), security cooperation with Russia, nuclear issue of Iran and North Korea consequently role and outcome of Three- (Iran) and Six-party (Korea) talks, and other security related issues, as well as reflecting upon his work the US National Security Council.

An extraordinarily open and vivid personality and top diplomat, Ambassador Schulte built up a reputable career working in the cabinet of the US Secretary of Defence, the Director for Nuclear Planning (assisting in the restructuring of NATO’s nuclear weapons posture after the Cold war) – the NATO HQ, and several other posts related to Strategic Forces Policy and to a deployment of NATO troops in SEE.

Before coming to Vienna in summer 2005, Mr. Schulte served as Executive Secretary of the National Security Council (responsible to the State Secretary Dr. Condoleezza Rice for overseeing the NSC Staff and the national security decision-making process), and the White House Situation Room. Besides his Mission capacity, Amb. Schulte is a acting as a governor with the IAEA’s Board of Governors. H.E. holds the high graduate and post-graduate degrees in Political Sciences from the prestigious Berkley (1980) and the Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School (1983).

Summing up after the half-day visit to Krems (in which Ambassador’s wife Nancy accompanied him), content-intensive speech to and talks with fellow students and professors with Ms. Eva Werner, IMC Vice-Rector, Mr. Ernst Fietz , the EXP Program Director, and Mr. Anis H. Bajrektarevic, EXP Chair and principal host of the event, Ambassador Schulte stated that he has been very impressed by our faculty’s continued interest in the US/trans-Atlantic affairs. The Ambassador also complimented the commitment and knowledge of our students as demonstrated in the questions and discussion with him as well as with our lasting cooperation with the US Mission and Embassy. Ambassador expressed his willingness to host Export fellows in his Mission as well as to return to our university soon again.

Text: Mr. Bajrektarevic