Senate Concurrent Resolution 600

(As Adopted by Senate and House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LEGACY OF DR. JANOS RADVÁNYI, THE FIRST ENDOWED CHAIR OF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES AT MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY, AND DESIGNATING DR. RADVÁNYI AS AN "HONORARY AMBASSADOR FOR THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI."

WHEREAS, Mississippi State University provides both students and faculty with a wide range of opportunities to gain awareness of international political, economic and security issues. To strengthen and enhance the scope of such availabilities, the university launched a $1 Million fund-raising drive to establish a Chair in International Security Studies. The effort was successful and the endowed chair, titled "Chair in International Security Studies," was inaugurated in June 1996; and

WHEREAS, in June of 1996, Dr. Janos Radványi became the first chair holder of the newly established Endowed Chair for International Security and Strategic Studies at Mississippi State University. In May 2000, the University leadership named the Chair the Radványi Chair in International Security Studies in honor of Dr. Radványi. The Chair is a university-wide institute and reports directly to the Vice President for Research at Mississippi State University; and

WHEREAS, born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1922, Dr. Janos Radványi lived through World War II in his native country. He fought the Germans in the partisan underground until the war ended. He entered diplomatic service in 1947 and was posted in Turkey, France, Switzerland and Syria. He was appointed to head the Hungarian Embassy in Washington, D.C., in 1962. Five years later for political reasons Ambassador Radványi cut his ties with the Hungarian government and issued a statement that said in part, "I have always tried to work for peace and better understanding in this troubled world. However, in recent months I came to realize that it was impossible for me to act in good conscience and continue to be the representative of the Hungarian Government to the American Government"; and

WHEREAS, after being granted political asylum, he and his family moved to California. He earned a doctorate in history at Stanford University in 1971. Shortly thereafter, he joined the faculty of the History Department at Mississippi State University. In 1982, he founded and directed the Center for International Security and Strategic Studies; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Radványi is a seasoned lecturer and has published extensively in his field. He has served as the principal investigator for numerous international conferences and has presented testimony to the United States Congress. He has organized multinational workshops for promoting economic and social development in Central Europe. He worked on ocean dumping nuclear waste problems with American, Japanese, Korean and Russian participation. His efforts contributed to President Boris Yelstin's historical decision to ban dumping of radioactive waste into the oceans; and

WHEREAS, presently, Dr. Radványi's scholarly work focuses on research, writing and teaching special seminars. He devotes full attention to vital global problems with emphasis on the postcommunist era's complex security problems. He is also active in the new research field of environmental security. Dr. Radványi is a member of the American and International Associations for the Advancement of Slavic Studies; a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, London; Councilor of the Atlantic Council of the United States, Washington, D.C.; a senior advisor in the Office of the Vice President for Research, Mississippi State University; and was the First Recipient of The Guy Tozzoli "Peace Through Trade" Distinguished Leadership Award, November 20, 2002; and

WHEREAS, in 1978, Dr. Radványi, his wife, Julianna, and his son, János, were granted American citizenship. Julianna Radványi was born in Tapsony, Hungary. She received her law degree in 1954 and was a judge of the district criminal court. The Radványis have two children: daughter Julianna II, who is living in Hungary, and son János, who makes his home in Santa Cruz, California. The Radványis have six grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, in its complex activities, the Chair devotes full attention to vital global problems with emphasis on the postcommunist era's complex security problems. It follows closely the four East Central European democracies: the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Poland and Hungary's integration into the Western Hemisphere politico-economic environment, as well as their role in NATO. In addition, the Chair pays special attention to the developing situation between the United States and the European Union, and the future of the transatlantic interrelation. As part of its mission, the Chair is working together with the Mississippi Department of Economic Authority and bringing to Jackson high-level economic and trade representatives from Germany, Japan, Mexico, Turkey and Jordan, just to mention a few; and

WHEREAS, another main function of the Radványi Chair in the new setup remains the management of the Executive Lecture Forum (ELF). Established in 1983, the Executive Lecture Forum (ELF) at Mississippi State University provides a unique outreach program. It hosts internationally respected speakers from around the globe to address the membership. Its publications reach government agencies, think tanks and major libraries. The Executive Lecture Forum is managed by Dr. Radványi; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the sophisticated international security challenges studied by students and faculty at Mississippi State University through the leadership of this respected scholar:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the legacy and leadership of Dr. Janos Radványi, the First Endowed Chair of International Security Studies at Mississippi State University, and extend to him and his family our best wishes in his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That Dr. Janos Radványi is hereby designated as an "Honorary Ambassador of International Affairs for the State of Mississippi."

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Dr. Radványi, forwarded to the President of Mississippi State University and the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.