JERUSALEM, February 8, 2011 (WAFA) - The U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem and AMIDEAST co-hosted on February 4 a reception to celebrate the establishment of the Palestinian Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Alumni Network, Tuesday said an AMIDEAST press release.
The Palestinian MEPI Alumni Network will support MEPI Alumni in their efforts to strategically promote civic participation in their local communities.
The mission of the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) is to create vibrant partnerships between America and citizens of the Middle East and North Africa to empower them to build more pluralistic, participatory and prosperous societies throughout the region, said the release.
It said, “Partnership is more than a slogan of the Obama Administration; it is a foundational principle of U.S. diplomacy. President Obama and Secretary Clinton have made partnership a cornerstone of our engagement with Muslim communities, and it is the guiding principle of MEPI. Partnerships between the United States, the private sector and non-governmental organizations of the Middle East and North Africa are facilitated by MEPI's work in the region. Ultimately, MEPI seeks to transform the U.S. relationship with citizens of the Middle East and North Africa. Through MEPI projects, we want citizens to view the United States as a partner in their efforts to create positive changes in their own societies.”
The goal of the official launch of the Palestinian MEPI Alumni Network was to bring together alumni from different MEPI programs to discuss the goals of the Network and to elect the Network’s leadership.
Mark Fernando, MEPI Coordinator at the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem, and Alistair Baskey, American House Director, welcomed the alumni and congratulated them on the establishment of the Network.
In his remarks to the group, Baskey said, “This alumni network will work towards our shared goal of building a future Palestinian state and society that is prosperous, pluralistic and participatory. The United States stands with you in achieving this objective.”
Azza Hasan, Palestinian MEPI Alumni Network Coordinator, an alumnus of the MEPI Student Leaders program, noted “As an alumnus, I am pleased we finally have a network which will allow MEPI alumni to bring their experiences together to make a difference in our community.”
The Palestinian MEPI Alumni Network is funded through MEPI and the U.S. Consulate General. The Network will support activities for the alumni of MEPI programs in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
M.A.
