Freedom from Discrimination Month Keynote Address: “The Muslim World and the United States"
Location: Cordiner Hall, Whitman College
Cost: Free
Phone: 509/522-0399
In his evening keynote address to participants of the Conference on Religious Diversity & Respect and others in Cordiner Hall, Ambassador Hussein Hassouna spoke on “The Muslim World and the United States.”
He emphasized that “religions teach us ethics, basic principles, and values,” also pointing out that religion has been used as an excuse for atrocities around the world. He expanded further on the theme expressed during the conference that religion and religious differences are often used by parties for political and geo-political ends, and in addition stressed that injustices tend to be more at the core of actions by apparently religious extremists than is religion itself, and must therefore be seriously addressed.
Dr. Hassouna cited racial profiling, demonizing, and inadequate legal processes following the September 11 attacks as new injustices demanding attention. At the same time, he expressed his confidence in our ability to work together, telling those in the hall, “There is no problem in the world that cannot find a solution. It is just will that is lacking.”
The importance of self-criticism, and of changing first within ourselves, was a recurring theme throughout the conference. At the same time, our religious, political, educational, and cultural institutions and their leadership have significant roles to play in assuring mutual respect and understanding among various peoples and faiths, and they need our active participation and encouragement to accomplish this crucial, ongoing task.
Dr. Hussein Hassouna was appointed Ambassador of the League of Arab States to the United States of America in July 2002, having previously served for five years as Ambassador of the League of Arab States to the United Nations. Prior to this, he was Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt for international Legal Affairs & Treaties (1996-1997), Ambassador of Egypt to Morocco (1992-1996) and to Yugoslavia (1989-1992), Director of Cabinet to the Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt (1986-1989), and Director of the Egyptian Press & Information Bureau in Paris, France (1983-1986)
A native of Egypt, Ambassador Hassouna received his L.L.B. & PhD in International Law from Cambridge University in England. This led to a distinguished career in international diplomacy, which saw him serve as a Member of Permanent Mission of Egypt to the United Nations and a Representative of Egypt to major United Nations conferences, Non-Aligned, African and Arab meetings. He also served as a Member of the Egyptian delegation to successive Middle East peace negotiations in Cairo, Tel Aviv and Washington, DC, leading to the signing of the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty.
Dr. Hassouna has lectured at major universities in the United States, Canada, England and France, including Yale, Georgetown, UCLA, McGill, Cambridge, Duke, and the Sorbonne. He is the author of a book, The League of Arab States and Regional Disputes, a Study of Middle East Conflicts, and of numerous articles on international law and world affairs in publications such as the American Journal of International Law, World Policy Journal, and various United Nations publications.
For Ambassador Hassouna and his wife Nevine, this is the second time living in the Washington, DC area. In the early Eighties, he served as Political Counselor of the Embassy of Egypt to the United States.