Conference Announcement

American-Moroccan Relations & the Path toward Democracy

Organized by the American Moroccan Institute (AMI) in coordination with the United States Congress and the National Democratic Institute (NDI)

Washington DC , Capitol Hill, Rayburn Building , Room 2200
Thursday, June 8, 2006

Members of US Congress, the Moroccan parliament, human rights experts, and high-level government representatives will meet on Capitol Hill to discuss Morocco ’s recent democratic reforms in relation to US foreign policy in the Middle East . Organized by the American Moroccan Institute (AMI), the conference will address the following questions: What are the challenges and promises of social, religious, and political reforms in Morocco ? What particular solutions do they provide to the issues of terrorism, women’s rights, and the Sahara ? How do democratic reforms in the Middle East overlap or conflict with the US attempt to promote democracy in the region? How is Arab democracy negotiated between domestic specificities and foreign pressures? What guarantees does the new experience of democracy offer against the rise of fundamentalism? What example do democratic reforms in Morocco set for the rest of the Arab and Muslim world?

The aim of the conference is to bring together American and Moroccan panelists from a wide array of political backgrounds to discuss one of the most important topics today, namely, how democracy should be viewed in the context of East-West relations. Confirmed speakers include: Congressmen Lincoln Diaz-Balart, John Larson, Robert Wexler, Sam Gejdenson; Congresswomen Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Anna Eshoo; Moroccan Deputies Fatna El-Kheil and Abdenbi Saligane; ex-minister and Ambassador at Large Serge Berdugo; RTM General News Director Ali Bouzerda; and the vice-president of the World Federation for Moroccan Jewry. The event will be attended by Moroccan and Arab ambassadors, State Department officials, leaders of Arab-American NGOs, academic experts, and members of the American and international media.

This is the first time an Arab-American NGO brings such a complex topic to the US Congress to be discussed by American and Moroccan political leaders. Having started out as an academic forum for cultural and religious dialogue, AMI now organizes large interdisciplinary conferences involving not only academics, but also government practitioners, policy makers, human rights activists, NGO leaders, and journalists. AMI seeks to provide all possibilities of dialogue where key players of American-Arab politics meet, build lasting networks, and work together to enhance mutual understanding between the U.S. and the Middle East.

Conference Program

American-Moroccan Relations & the Path Toward Democracy

Thursday, June 8, 2006 , 8:30 am-11:00 am
Capitol Hill, Rayburn Building , Room 2200 Washington DC

8:30 am --- 8:50 am Light Breakfast

9:00-10: am
Panel I: American-Moroccan Relations: common priorities?
Ileana Ros-Lehtinen , U.S. House of Representatives, International Committee
John Larson , U.S. House of Representatives, International Committee
Lincoln Diaz-Balart , U.S. House of Representatives, Chair of the Morocco Caucus
Serge Berdugo, Moroccan Government, Ambassador at Large and ex-minister.

Moderator: Sam Gejdenson, ex-Congressman and NDI Director

10:00: 11:00 am
Panel II: Moroccan Reforms in Regional and International Contexts
Anna Eshoo , U.S. House of Representatives, Intelligence Committee
Abdenbi Saligane, President of the Alliance Socialist Group, Moroccan Parliament
Robert Wexler , U.S. House of Representatives, International Committee
Charles Dahan, Vice-President, World Federation for Moroccan Jewry & CSIS Director
Fatna El-Kheil, Eighth Vice-President, Moroccan Parliament

Moderator: Ali Bouzerda, News General Director, RTM

Closing Remarks: Dr. Mokhtar Ghambou, President of AMI, Yale University

Followed by a roundtable discussion (closed to the public) at NDI ( 3-5 pm ) and Dinner Reception at the Capitol Club.

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