Concordia hosted its inaugural Summit in New York City on September 20th, 2011. The event examined the international fight against terrorism and the struggle to combat the breeding of extremist thought. It provided an unprecedented platform for the transformation of dialogue between private and public entities, laying the groundwork for the development of successful and transformational partnerships.
Following the 10th anniversary of 9/11, George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States of America, delivered the 2011 Concordia Summit keynote address. President Bush’s remarks were followed by a conversation with former Homeland Security Advisor, Frances Townsend.
The inaugural Concordia Summit featured a live simulation depicting an emergency meeting of global leaders in the event of a terrorist attack. Select attendees played the roles of world leaders working together to confront a crisis of global proportions.
President Álvaro Uribe Vélez, President Aleksander Kwaśniewski, Ambassador John Negroponte, Ambassador Paula J. Dobriansky, General Montgomery Meigs, Frances Townsend, Sheridan Snyder, and Former Assistant Director of the New York FBI Office, Pasquale D’Amuro all participated in this simulation.
“Concordia is a good platform to be more interconnected with mutual understanding with a common courageous approach to solving the world's problems.” President Aleksander Kwaśniewski of Poland
The afternoon session began with a conversation between former President of Colombia Álvaro Uribe and U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte discussed the importance of the private sector in the fight against extremism and the security of Colombia and South America.
“Concordia will have enormous significance around the world. As President of Colombia, I have seen firsthand the positive effects and immense efficiencies that [public-private partnerships] have on changing the world and impacting communities.” President Álvaro Uribe Vélez, former President of Colombia
Summit participants were invited to participate in small breakout sessions, addressing fronts on which enhanced public-private sector collaboration might more effectively combat global terrorist organizations, including Public Diplomacy, Homegrown Terrorism, Financing, and Narcoterrorism. The sessions were developed in partnership with Synectics World, a global consulting firm.
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