In Conferences



June 26-28, 2014
 

Washington, D.C. 

Theme:

After Arab Spring, Middle East Christians Between Local Violence and International Indifference

 

Policy Day: Thursday June 26

Capitol Visitors Center, HVC 201 (*)
 

Agenda

➢    9:00 – Opening remarks – President, Coptic Solidarity – Mr. Adel Guindy

➢    9:15 – Session 1Taking Stock: Current Situation and Policy Recommendations –  Chair: Dr. Walid Phares Co-Sec. General, Transatlantic Legislative Group.

  • Fr. Henri Boulad, sj, Past President CARITAS North-Africa, Middle East

  • Hon. Lord David Alton UK House of Lord
  • Ambassador Alberto Fernandez, Director, Center for Strategic Counter Terrorism Communication, US Department of State

  • Ms. Nina Shea, Director, Center for Religious Freedom -Hudson

  • Q&A

➢    10:45 – Short Statements by U.S. Legislators:

•    Congressman Frank Wolf (R-VA)

•    Congressman Joseph R. Pitts (R-PA)

•    Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)

•    Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

•    Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL)

•    Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)

•    Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-TX)

 

➢    11:45 – Leadership Awards presentation:

  • Hon. Lord David Alton UK House of Lords
  • Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ)
  • Ms. Nina Shea, Director, Center for Religious Freedom -Hudson Institute

➢    12:00 – Lunch break (sandwiches served in the room)

➢    13:00 – Short Statements by U.S. Legislators

•    Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)

•    Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ)

•    Congressman Steve Stockman (R-TX)

•    Congressman Paul Cook (R-CA) – Regret due to time conflict

•     Congressman Sean Duffy (R-WI) –Regret due to time conflict
 

 

•    Hon. Bob Dechert Member of the Canadian House of Commons

Special session

 
    • Dr. Robert P. George, Chairman, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)
    • Mr. Steven Feldstein, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State  (DRL)
    ➢    14:40 – Session 2 – As Goes Egypt, So Goes the Middle East Chair: Mr. Alex Shalaby, Member, Coptic Solidarity Exec. Committee
    • Mr. Eric Trager, Senior Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

    • Dr. Herb London, President, London Center for Policy Research

    • Q&A

    ➢    15:50 – Panel –Western Indifference to Plight of Religious Minorities –  Chair: Raymond Ibrahim, Author, columnist

    • Mr. Michael Coren, Columnist, author, Radio and TV host, Canada.
    • Mr Raymond Arroyo, Anchor, The World Over, EWTN

    • Mr. Erick Stakelbeck, National Security Analyst, CBN

    • Mr. Ryan Mauro, National Security Analyst

    –     Q&A

    17:00 – E N D

    ******

    Conference: Friday June 27

    Key Bridge Marriott Hotel
    (1401 Lee Highway Arlington, VA 22209)

    Agenda

    ➢    9:00 – Session-1- Voices of Middle East Christian Minorities – Chair: Magdi Khalil, Writer and analyst; Coptic Solidarity Board Member

    •  MECHRIC- Affiliated Organizations (*)
     
    • Mr. Joe Baini, VP, World Maronite Union
    • Dr. Joseph Kassab, President, ICAE
    • Mr. Loay Mikhael, Iraq Assyrian Council
    • Mr. John Hajjar, Lebanese Melkites
    • Mr. Tom Harb, MECHRIC

     
    • Dr. Essam Eskander, Philosophy professor and political writer
     
    • Ms. Marina Shalabi, researcher at WINEP
    ➢    10:30     Break

    ➢    11:00    Panel- Strategies – Internal & International Roles – Chair Ann Buwalda, Exec Director Jubilee USA

     

     

    General (ret.) Robert Scales, military analyst, news commentator, and author; former commandant of the U.S. Army War College.

       
      • Mr. David Schenker, Director, Arab Political Program, The Washington Institute for Near East Policies
       
      • Dr. Graeme Bannerman, President, Bannerman & Associates, former Midlle East Policy Staff, Department of State
       
      • Q&A
       
      • Prince Gharios of Ghassan Al-Numaan
       
      ➢    12:30     Lunch break

      ➢    13:30     Keynote Speaker: Kathleen Troia (“KT”) McFarland, Fox News National Security Analyst, a former Pentagon Spokesperson (1981-84)
      ➢    14:30      Session: The Role of NGOs – Chair Lindsay VesseyAdvocacy Director, CS
      • Ms. Katherine Gorka, President, Council on Global Security
       
      • Mr. Peter Bhatti, Chairman, Intl. Christian Voice (and brother of the slain Pakistani minister)
       
      • Mr. Doug Bandow, Senior Fellow, Cato Institute
       
      • Mr. Mark Ohanian, Director of Programs, IOCC
       
      • Ms. Sarah Fitch-Roderick, Coalition for the Defense of Human Rights.
       
      • >> Leadership Award to the name of the late Very Rev. Keith Roderick
       
      • Q&A


      17:00         E N D

      ____________________

      (*) Participating members of MECHRIC:

      – The World Maronite Union
      – Syriac National Council of Syria
      – European Syrian Union
      – Melkite Catholics
      – Assyrian American National Federation
      – Iraqi Christians Advocacy and Empowerment Institute (ICAE)

      *******

      Special Dinner

      Invited Speakers:

      • Mr. Raymond Stock, Author, translator of Naguib Mahfouz novels
      • Mr. Iyad Jamal Aldin, Iraqi intellectual, politician and religious cleric
      • Mr. Ali Al-Ahmed, Director, The Institute of Gulf Affairs
      • Lord David Alton UK House of Lords
      • Dr. Walid Phares Co-Sec. General, Transatlantic Legislative Group.
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