Dayton Reporter

May 29, 2025

DAYTON, OHIO – Congressman Mike Turner hosted a press conference with Sinclair Community College President Steve Johnson to discuss the college's involvement during the NATO Parliamentary Assembly's Spring Session in Dayton, Ohio.

"We had several Heads of State that came to Dayton, Ohio as part of the celebration of the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Accords," said Congressman Mike Turner. "I want to thank Sinclair and specifically President Johnson for allowing Sinclair Community College to be the site for each of these Heads of State to come together."

President Steve Johnson noted, "That which was done here was a tangential set of diplomatic activities for the Balkan countries aside from and adjacent to the NATO summit in downtown Dayton." He mentioned various issues likely discussed at Sinclair, including Balkan regional stability and security, European integration, foreign influence and geopolitics, migration policies, economic development, trade cooperation, and education.

During this assembly, Sinclair Community College hosted heads of state and diplomats from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania along with representatives from the U.S. State Department and U.S. House of Representatives. These meetings facilitated bilateral discussions on issues affecting the Balkans and were crucial in shaping international diplomacy talks concerning NATO's security concerns.

Sinclair Community College closed its David H. Ponitz Center from May 22-26 for these meetings. The college also coordinated with various security agencies to ensure a secure environment for all dignitaries involved.