CHICAGO – NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen will join this year’s Young Atlanticist Summit in Chicago to discuss the NATO agenda and priorities for the future. Setting the stage for the official NATO Summit, the Secretary General’s speech to young professionals will be his first on-the-record event before more than fifty heads of state converge on Chicago. 

Hosted by the Atlantic Council and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the Young Atlanticist Summit is the primary public diplomacy event at the 2012 Chicago Summit. It provides nearly sixty young professional leaders—the decision-makers of tomorrow—dynamic opportunities to engage with the leaders of today. Including members of parliament, CEOs, academics, government officials, military veterans, and journalists—aged 25-35—the delegates represent all countries of the NATO Alliance, as well as partner nations such as Australia and Afghanistan. Young Atlanticist delegates are available for interviews during the Summit to discuss the next generation of NATO leadership. Read their bios. 

This year’s Summit will feature sessions with heads of state and government, as well as the leadership of NATO, and showcase lively panels with prominent experts and policymakers.It will run on the sidelines of the NATO Summit from May 19-21, with a host of other events open to Summit-credentialed press at the Hyatt McCormick Place. Staff will facilitate pool movements from the media center. See the full agenda for events open to press. 

Atlantic Council and Chicago Council senior staff are available for interviews on the sidelines of the NATO Summit to provide in-depth analysis of the major issues being discussed. Read the experts’ bios.

WHEN: Saturday, May 19, 8:30 – 10 a.m. Central; camera pre-set time 7:30 a.m.

WHERE: Sax Hotel, 333 North Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60654

FORMAT: Secretary General Rasmussen will deliver a keynote address and then take questions from the Young Atlanticist delegates only. Press risers and mult-box access will be provided for all audio feeds.

VISUALS: High resolution photos and video available to press upon request.

INTERVIEWS: Sideline interviews available with young delegates and experts. To schedule an interview, please indicate your interest when you RSVP.

For more information about other press opportunities throughout the Summit, please contact Taleen Ananian at 818.497.8008 or press@acus.org. 

The Atlantic Council is a nonpartisan organization that promotes constructive US leadership and engagement in international affairs based on the central role of the Atlantic community in meeting today’s global challenges. For more information, visit www.acus.org. 

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs is an independent, nonpartisan organization committed to influencing the discourse on global issues through contributions to opinion and policy formation, leadership dialogue, and public learning. For more information, visit www.thechicagocouncil.org.