Welcome you to this virtual conversation. Europe holds and free the future of the the line was unintentional, but we did it. Todays event is sponsored by our global europe around under the direction of our newly minted director, dan hamilton, who will take over managing this program for me in a little while. Its also sponsored by our kennon institute in partnership with the u. S. Helsinki commission. Dannon joins the Wilson Center after holding a variety of patients in the u. S. Department of state, including notably, assistant secretary for european affair responsible for nato, the osce and transatlantic Security Issues of the nordic, baltic, and balkan affairs. He also retains an affiliation with and taught for a while at johns hopkins. Our conversation today marks an important milestone. 30 years ago today, the charter of paris for the new europe was signed by 34 european and north american countries symbolizing an end to the 40year division of europe into two hostile camps. It form