Press Releases Archive

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A high-level group of political and military leaders from nuclear weapons states met today to launch the “Military Materials Security Study Group,” an effort to bolster the security of the nuclear materials under the control of militaries worldwide.   

The U.S. role in the removal and eventual destruction of Syria’s chemical weapons is being carried out under the umbrella of the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Program. Specifically, CTR funds were used to equip the Cape Ray vessel for its chemical weapons destruction mission and to operate the Cape Ray for the duration of the mission.“This was made possible by the 20-year history of cooperation that the program built between the United States and Russia on WMD threat reduction. That cooperation has expanded outside of the former Soviet Union and in Syria, we are acting as partners in removing an imminent threat.

Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Kristian Vigenin will present former Senator Richard Lugar with the Golden Laurel Branch award at a ceremony at the Bulgarian Embassy this evening. The Golden Laurel Branch is the highest honor granted by the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Former Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Richard G. Lugar commended approval of the United States to begin implementing more rigorous transparency measures as part of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

Former Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Senator Richard G. Lugar today called for a broad "diplomatic offensive" to counter Russian aggression in Ukraine. "Crisis brings opportunity. The opportunity today is to expand the trans-Atlantic alliance," Lugar said.

Lugar Center senior staff recently welcomed Zambian Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Robert Sichinga and Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States Palan Mulonda to The Lugar Center for a discussion of the challenges facing Zambian food security and Zambia’s potential as a food exporter for Southern Africa.

Beurt SerVaas was instrumental in the foundation of UNIGOV, but more importantly, his service as President of the City-County Council for 27 years was indispensable in the success of UNIGOV and the outstanding progress of Indianapolis. I admired Beurt SerVaas as a successful business innovator, but I treasured his loyal friendship in politics and governance because he was intelligent, courageous, and always present to serve in good times and bad. My thoughts and prayers are with the SerVaas family at this time of grievous loss.

The American Farm Bureau Federation at the Opening Session of its 95th Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas, attended by 5,000 delegates, awarded its highest recognition honor, the Distinguished Service Award, to former Senator Richard G. Lugar of Indiana. The trophy was presented by President Bob Stallman. The Indiana Farm Bureau nominated Lugar for his lifetime devotion to agriculture, and Don Villwock, President of the Indiana Farm Bureau, was onstage during the presentation.

The Lugar Center is pleased to announce that a number of distinguished individuals have joined us as Affiliated Experts. These experts in Global Food Security and Aid Effectiveness strengthen The Lugar Center’s platform with their expertise spanning from academia to policy and governance. We welcome them and look forward to productive collaboration as we seek to find solutions to challenges facing the 21st century.

Budva, Montenegro – GMF Senior Transatlantic Fellow Senator Richard Lugar embarked on a three day trip to Montenegro last week to advocate for enhanced economic, political, and security relations between the United States and Montenegro

WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama named sixteen recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. The awards will be presented at the White House later this year.

John Walls was a major contributor to the dynamic 20th Century growth of Indianapolis.

Following are remarks by former U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar to the U.S.-Azerbaijan Convention, May 29, in Baku, Azerbaijan. Lugar has been one of the top U.S. envoys to the region dealing with nonproliferation and energy issues.

Federal Republic of Germany President Joachim Gauck has decided to bestow on retired U.S. Sen. Richard G. Lugar the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit. The presentation will be made by German Ambassador to the U.S. Dr. Peter Ammon in Washington, DC on Wednesday evening, May 8

Two former U.S. senators and an esteemed sociologist are recipients of the 2013 Richard E. Neustadt and Thomas C. Schelling Awards. The awards will be presented May 2 during a ceremony in Cambridge hosted by Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) Dean David T. Ellwood.

Former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, the longest-serving senator in Indiana's history, has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation's most prestigious honorary societies.

Her Majesty The Queen of England has bestowed upon retired U.S. Sen. Richard G. Lugar the rank of honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE).

Senator Lugar was recently appointed Counselor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Indiana University President Michael A. McRobbie announced Jan. 24, 2013 that former U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar and former U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton will join the faculty of IU's School of Global and International Studies .

Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IND.), the U.S. Senate’s most senior Republican, will join the Georgetown Public Policy Institute this spring as a visiting distinguished professor of public policy.

The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) today announces that Senator Richard G. Lugar will join GMF as a Senior Transatlantic Fellow after the Senator leaves the U.S. Senate in January 2013

On Monday, December 3, 2012, National Defense University hosted a symposium for government officials, Congressional representatives and experts to mark the 20th anniversary of the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program.

During the ceremony, the “Knight of Freedom" Award was presented to the U.S. Senator Richard Lugar for his engagement in advocating for Poland's accession to NATO.