Press Roundtable with Ambassador C. David Welch

Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs
April 20, 2008

Ambassador C. David Welch, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, participated in a roundtable for members of the press in Abu Dhabi on April 20, 2008.  The following is the full transcript of his remarks.

On U.S. perspectives regarding the election of a Lebanese president, and on how the question could be solved:

• To be honest, I am not sure, because the Lebanese themselves have not been able to arrive at a solution yet.   There was some support offered through the Arab League initiative, but it has not had a result and I find that increasingly the people of Lebanon are troubled by this development.  They're worried that they'll have another difficult summer of tourism being low because of the tension in the country, and more broadly, I think they are concerned, ever since Hizballah launched the war in 2006, that maybe Lebanon will miss out from this oil boom, that it will be left behind in the region as there is economic progress elsewhere.  So I found them troubled about the future. (complete text)

UAE Business Delegation to visit the United States and participate in the OTC

On Wednesday April 23rd, Chargé d'affaires Martin R. Quinn saluted the UAE government officials and businesspeople who will participate in the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, May 5-8, 2008. 

For the sixth consecutive year, the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi has recruited a delegation to attend the (OTC).  With over 100 participants representing over 45 companies, this year’s group is the largest-ever trade delegation recruited to OTC.  The UAE contingent includes representatives from various ADNOC companies and from leading UAE based suppliers of energy related equipment and services. UAE delegates will attend OTC 2008 to familiarize themselves with the latest technological advances in the oil & gas industry and to explore business opportunities with American and other international companies exhibiting at OTC.

(complete text)

Remarks by Chargé d’Affaires Martin Quinn
at a Reception for Houston Mayor Bill White
 and the Houston, Texas Trade Delegation

Monday, April 21, 2008, 6:00 p.m., Millennium Hotel, Abu Dhabi
(as delivered)

 Welcome to Mayor William White & Mrs. Andrea White, honored guests, ladies & gentlemen.

 I understand you had several excellent meetings today after the Embassy briefing, including Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce, and Mubadala.  Hope these engagements proved beneficial and eventually profitable.

 Hardly a week goes by when we do not have visitors, governmental and private sector, delegations and groups on fact-finding missions, from the U.S. in Abu Dhabi and in Dubai.  The numbers of visitors, senior officials, members of Congress, Cabinet secretaries, and others have increased sharply in the past three years as more of our countrymen and women signal their heightened interest in the United Arab Emirates and what is happening in this country. (complete text)

U.S. National Day
UAE Guest of Honor Minister of State for Financial Affairs His Excellency Obaid Humaid Al Tayer.

Remarks by Martin R. Quinn, Chargé d'Affaires at the Celebration of U.S. National Day
March 17, 2008
Shangri-La Hotel, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

اصحاب السعادة، الزملاء والأصدقاء

انه لمن دواعي السعادة والشرف لي أن أرحب بكم في هذا المساء بمناسبة العيد الوطني لبلدنا

Excellencies, colleagues and friends, honored guests, ladies and gentlemen, good evening to you all.

I want to welcome you to this celebration of the U.S. National Day for the first time, as far as we know, on the mainland of the UAE.

Thank you for coming out on this fine evening in the middle of March.  Several people have asked:  "why March?" (complete text)

Human Rights Report Supports Human Rights Activists, Rice Says
Evaluations highlight obstacles, but are written with “optimism”

12 March 2008. Washington -- To some, the annual Human Rights Report is a gloomy list of human rights abuses committed by many governments around the world.  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, however, sees it as a means to support human rights activists everywhere. (complete text)

United States Joins International Judicial Conference in Abu Dhabi

A United States delegation participated in the International Conference of the Presidents of the Supreme Courts of the World in Abu Dhabi on March 23-24, 2008.
 
Chief Judge Robert Henry of the United States Court of Appeals led the delegation, which also included United States Court of Appeals Judge David Ebel and Jeffrey Minear, the Administrative Assistant and Chief of Staff to the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. (complete text)

U.S.-U.A.E. Gulf Security Dialogue

Organization of the Islamic Conference Condemns Jerusalem Attack

The Islamic world's largest political bloc, the 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), condemned the killing of eight Israeli teenagers in a Jerusalem seminary, saying it was “against any act of violence and terror anywhere in the world,” according to a statement released on its website on March 7. (full statement)

OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu urged all parties “to act with calm and restraint in the face of this tragic event,” saying that “this vicious cycle of killing must be stopped.” (complete text)

2008 Near East and South Asia Undergraduate Exchange Program

A program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs U.S. Department of State

The deadline for applications for the NESA UGRAD Program is March 10, 2008

The U.S. Embassy announces the Near East and South Asia Undergraduate Exchange Program (NESA UGRAD), a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State, which provides opportunities for first-, second-, and third-year undergraduate students, from the United Arab Emirates to spend one semester or one academic year of full-time, non-degree study in the United States. Participants will be enrolled in full-time, non-degree study at 2-year and 4-year institutions. (complete text)

Celebrating Black History Month: Art and Poetry of the Harlem Renaissance

February 27, 2008. The American Corner at the UAE University hosted a presentation on “Art and Poetry of the Harlem Renaissance” on February 27, 2008, to commemorate Black History Month.  The speaker, Ms. Mara Andersen, Assistant Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy, lead a discussion of the historical origins of Black History Month and African Americans’ contributions to U.S. history. (complete text)

Music Educator Johnette Downing Visits UAE

February 16, 2008. On Sunday, February 16th, award-winning musician, author and educator, Johnette Downing performed for students at the Al Dhabiania Model School for Girls in Abu Dhabi.  Students, teachers and administrators enjoyed her engaging performance, during which they learned about the foods and culture traditional to Ms. Downing's home state of Louisiana. (complete text)

EducationUSA Greets Prospective Students at the International Students Network University Fair

Over three hundred students and parents, including both UAE nationals and non-nationals, attended the International Students Network University Fair on February 11, 2008 at the Abu Dhabi Beach Rotana Hotel.  More than 25 American colleges and universities welcomed enquiries and offered students and parents information on their academic programs, application processes and available scholarships.  The ISN fair is one of many fairs regularly held in the UAE that highlight opportunities to study in the United States. (complete text)

President Bush Visits Abu Dhabi

January 13, 2008. "Throughout the sweep of history, the lands that the Arab people call home have played a pivotal role in world affairs. These lands sit at the juncture of three great continents -- Europe and Asia and Africa. These lands have given birth to three of the world's major religions. These lands have seen the rise and fall of great civilizations. And in the 21st century, these lands are once again playing a central role in the human story." (complete text)

Applicant Fee for Non-Immigrant Visa to Increase on January 1, 2008

Effective January 1, 2008, the application fee for a U.S. nonimmigrant visa will increase from $100 to $131 (payable in local currency).  In the UAE, visa applicants must pay the fee at selected branches of the National Bank of Abu Dhabi in all seven Emirates. (complete text)

Travel Alert

November 08, 2007. This Travel Alert is being updated as the Department of State continues to alert Americans to ongoing security concerns in the Middle East and North Africa, including Iraq.  U.S. citizens are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness.  This message supersedes the Travel Alert issued on May 14, 2007 and expires on May 7, 2008.   (complete text)

U.S. Fulbright Scholar Assists UAE University

November 14, 2007. During her visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Fulbright Senior Specialist Patricia Stall assisted the dean and faculty members of the UAE University’s College of Education in developing curriculum and assessment tasks for their upcoming Master’s of Education program. (complete text)

International Religious Freedom Report 2007: United Arab Emirates

September 17, 2007. The Constitution provides for freedom of religion in accordance with established customs, and the government generally respects this right in practice; however, there were some restrictions. The federal Constitution declares that Islam is the official religion of the country. (complete text)

October 22, 2007. United States Fulbright Scholars Dr. Nouredine Zettili and Dr. Sufian Forawi hosted a one-day training workshop for high school physics teachers at the Meriam Bint Sultan High School on October 22, 2007. (complete text)

Attention: Calling U.S. Graduates

If you are a resident or national who studied in the U.S., we would like to contact you, invite you to functions and ask you to participate in workshops, presentations and talks involving education in the USA. Please send us an email at EducationUSAabudhabi@state.gov with your name and contact numbers, where you studied and years in the USA and we will call you for other details. If you live in Dubai or the Northern Emirates, then please email EducationUSAdubai@state.gov.

النسخة العربية