Project on Middle East Democracy

Project on Middle East Democracy
The POMED Wire Archives


Category: Upcoming Events

Obama Calls for Democratic Transition to Begin Now

February 1st, 2011 by Naureen

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama made a statement on the events in Egypt and his conversations with President Hosni Mubarak. Obama began by praising the Egyptian military for its restraint and professionalism: “I urge the military to continue its efforts to ensure this time of change is peaceful.”

He went on to say that the U.S. “stands for freedom of information and expression” and stated that going forward the U.S. will continue to support democracy. “We have spoken out on behalf of the need for change,” he said and mentioned that in conversations with Mubarak he expressed that “those of us who are privileged to serve in positions of power, do so at the will of the people.” Obama stated that “Mubarak recognizes that the status quo is not sustainable.”

He also stated that it is not the role of any country to determine Egypt’s leaders: “To the people of Egypt, particularly the young people of Egypt, I want to be clear: we hear your voices…and I believe that you will determine your own destiny.” Obama also stressed that, “Orderly transition must be meaningful, must be peaceful, and must begin now...the process of change should lead to elections that are free and fair and meet the aspirations of the people… There will be difficult days ahead. Many questions remain unanswered. But I am confident Egyptian people will find those answers…and the U.S. stands ready to assist the Egyptian people in the aftermath of these protests.

Update: To see his full statement click here.


Posted in Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Elections, Protests, Reform, Upcoming Events | Comment »

Announcing POMED’s 2009 Emerging Leaders for Democracy Conferences

September 10th, 2009 by Zack

POMED is excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for our upcoming series of conferences in the Middle East.  These will bring together young American and European professionals with reformists working in the Middle East to examine political reform dynamics in Jordan, Lebanon, and Egypt and the role of U.S. foreign policy on the prospects for reform in those countries.  Ultimately, the conferences will produce recommendations for U.S. policymakers on how to improve the American impact in the region and how to more effectively and constructively support democracy.

Each conference will include panel discussions from Arab and American experts on U.S. foreign policy initiatives, assessments of the state of political reform in the region, and the role of the U.S. and Europe in assisting this reform.  Primary topics of discussion will include: Elections & Political Processes; Religious Freedom and Inclusion; Women’s Rights and Empowerment; and Human Security and Development.

The 2009 conference schedule is as follows:

Amman, Jordan: October 7 – 9, 2009
Beirut, Lebanon: October 26 - 28, 2009
Cairo, Egypt: November 4 -6, 2009

Americans living in the U.S. or in the region, Europeans, as well as local young professionals residing in those respective countries ages 23-35 are encouraged to apply.  Each conference will include 15 Middle Easterners and 15 Americans and Europeans.

Applications are currently being accepted for all events, but due dates are quickly approaching and early applications will be given priority.

To view the complete conference announcement and complete an application please visit the following links:

http://pomed.org/activities/conferences/ (English)

http://pomed.org/arabic-conference-info/  (Arabic version)


Posted in Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Events, Events, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Human Rights, Islam and Democracy, Jordan, Lebanon, Legislation, Reform, Upcoming Events | Comment »

POMED Event this Friday

May 18th, 2009 by Cecile

This week, POMED and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation will host fifteen European, American, and Middle Eastern leaders for an intensive workshop on the future of multilateral action toward reform in the Middle East. Please join us on Friday, May 22 for a luncheon discussion of their findings with Nora Younis, journalist and blogger, Almasry Alyoum; David Adesnik, Doublethink Magazine; and Amir Motahari, European Commission, Directorate-General for External Relations.

To view the invitation click here.


Posted in Multilateralism, POMED, Upcoming Events | Comment »

POMED Event this Wednesday

May 18th, 2009 by Cecile

Come join us for a very timely discussion of strategies for supporting democracy and human rights in Egypt. The upcoming visits by President Mubarak to Washington and President Obama to Cairo will be watched closely for signals as to the place of democracy and human rights in a changing U.S.-Egypt relationship. On Wednesday afternoon, POMED will be hosting an event on Capitol Hill marking the release of a new paper by Greg Aftandilian - Looking Forward: An Integrated Approach to Supporting Democracy and Human Rights in Egypt. Joining him for the discussion will be Neil Hicks, International Policy Advisor for Human Rights First; Tom Malinowski, Washington Advocacy Director for Human Rights Watch; and Ambassador Edward S. Walker, former U.S. Ambassador to Egypt and former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs.

To view the invitation click here.


Posted in Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Human Rights, POMED, Reports, US foreign policy, Upcoming Events | Comment »

Governmental Goings-on

November 4th, 2008 by Jason

Just some upcoming travel news about your imminently lame-duck Executive Branch:

Tomorrow, Secretary Rice begins a four-day trip to Israel, Palestine, Jordan, and Egypt. A State Department statement says “she will meet with her Quartet counterparts and senior government officials to discuss efforts to achieve positive and lasting peace in the region, consistent with the Annapolis process and the shared goal of a two-state solution.”

Also, on November 13 President Bush will meet with Saudi Arabia’s King Abdallah in New York at a UN meeting on interfaith dialogue.

The POMED Wire will, of course, bring you full analysis of these and other too-late diplomatic overtures.


Posted in Diplomacy, Mideast Peace Plan, US foreign policy, Upcoming Events | Comment »

This Week’s Events

August 25th, 2008 by Adam

Tuesday August 26, 2008
12:00 Middle East Institute: The Iranian Nuclear Challenge

Wednesday August 27, 2008
12:oo Hudson Institute: “NATO’s Counterterrorism Strategies: Quo Vadis?”

Thursday August 28, 2008
12:00 Middle East Institute: “The Arab Center: The Promise of Moderation”

And you can always check out POMED’s Events Calendar for a current listing of events in the Washington D.C. area related to democratic reform, U.S. foreign policy, and the Middle East.


Posted in Events, This Week's Events, Upcoming Events | Comment »

This Week’s Events

July 28th, 2008 by Adam

Tuesday July 29, 2008

12:00 Middle East Institute/Project on Middle East Democracy: Democratic Development in the Middle East and North Africa
2:00 United States Institute of Peace: Thwarting Afghanistan’s Insurgency: A Pragmatic Approach to Peace and Reconciliation
4:00 Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia: Update on the Situation in Lebanon

Wednesday July 30, 2008

10:00 United States Institute of Peace: Iraqi Minister of Interior, Jawad al-Bolani
12:00 Wilson Center: The US and the Middle East: Assessing the Bush Era Balance Sheet

Thursday July 31, 2008

9:00 Center for American Progress: Senator Kerry: A New Approach to Fighting Terrorism
10:30 House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade: Foreign Aid and the Fight Against Terrorism and Proliferation: Leveraging Foreign Aid to Achieve U.S. Policy Goals
2:00 Senate Committee on Foreign Relations: Defining the Military’s Role Towards Foreign Policy
2:00 Senate Committee on Homeland Security: A Reliance on Smart Power - Reforming the Foreign Assistance Bureuacracy

And you can always check out POMED’s Events Calendar for a current listing of events in the Washington D.C. area related to democratic reform, U.S. foreign policy, and the Middle East.


Posted in Events, Events, This Week's Events, Upcoming Events | Comment »