Making the U.N. more effective in times of crisis

Richard C. Holbrooke, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Clinton Administration, will discuss "Making the U.N. More Effective in Times of Crisis," in the 2003 Citigroup Lecture at 2 p.m. March 21 at the University of Michigan.

Holbrooke also is well known for his role in settling a war as the chief negotiator during the Dayton Peace Accords. The lecture, coordinated by Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, will be held in Hale Auditorium, U-M Business School, 701 Tappan Street.

The public is welcomed to this free event.

Holbrooke is a diplomat with extensive experience in the public and the private sectors. As U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from 1999-2001, he began his tenure by negotiating a multi-party agreement to bring the U.S. back into good standing with the United Nations. His work involved persuading Congress to release $582 million in unpaid dues assessment, convincing U.N. member nations to reduce the U.S. share of dues, and enlisting the assistance of business tycoon and CNN founder Ted Turner to make up the difference. Holbrooke is vice chairman of Perseus, a New York investment firm. He has served as vice chairman of Credit Suisse First Boston and managing director of Lehman Bros. The Citigroup Foundation established the endowed lecture series to honor President Ford's long affiliation with Citigroup, Inc. Since its inception in 2001, the series has brought prominent national and international policymakers to the Ford School annually to engage students and faculty in dialogue and to give a public lecture.

• Richard Holbrooke