For Immediate Release, May 31, 2009
Contact: Allison Sturma, 202-429-4725

(Washington) -- The United States Institute of Peace (USIP), created and funded by Congress, announced today the formation of a new outreach forum entitled “Congressional Newsmaker Series” to feature Members of Congress speaking at USIP about issues related to war and peace with a special focus on international conflict prevention and resolution. The first guest will be Senator Kit Bond, who will address issues related to Afghanistan and Pakistan.

“We are pleased to introduce this new programmatic series that will give Congress a platform for enriching public dialogue and public education about international conflict management,” said the Institute’s President, Richard H. Solomon. “I am delighted that Senator Kit Bond, who was instrumental in supporting USIP’s facilitation project in the Philippines, will be kicking off the series.”

Senator Bond will be the first guest of USIP's Congressional Newsmaker Series on Friday, April 3 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the Institute.

The event is free and open to the public.

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ABOUT SENATOR BOND: Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond (R), the senior Senator from Missouri, has served in the Senate since 1986. As Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee and an expert in South and Central Asian issues, Senator Bond has spent a great deal of time focusing on the Afghanistan-Pakistan situation, has travelled extensively in the region, and studied closely the factors affecting security, development, and governance in the region.