June 26-28, 2014
Washington, D.C.
Theme:
After Arab Spring, Middle East Christians Between Local Violence and International Indifference
Capitol Visitors Center, HVC 201 (*)
➢ 9:15 – Session 1 – Taking Stock: Current Situation and Policy Recommendations – Chair: Dr. Walid Phares Co-Sec. General, Transatlantic Legislative Group.
- Fr. Henri Boulad, sj, Past President CARITAS North-Africa, Middle East
- Hon. Lord David Alton – UK House of Lord
- Ambassador Alberto Fernandez, Director, Center for Strategic Counter Terrorism Communication, US Department of State
- Ms. Nina Shea, Director, Center for Religious Freedom -Hudson
- Q&A
➢ 10:45 – Short Statements by U.S. Legislators:
• Congressman Joseph R. Pitts (R-PA)
• Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)
• Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)
• Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL)
• Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)
• Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-TX)
➢ 11:45 – Leadership Awards presentation:
- Hon. Lord David Alton – UK House of Lords
- Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ)
- Ms. Nina Shea, Director, Center for Religious Freedom -Hudson Institute
➢ 12:00 – Lunch break (sandwiches served in the room)
➢ 13:00 – Short Statements by U.S. Legislators
• Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ)
• Congressman Steve Stockman (R-TX)
• Congressman Paul Cook (R-CA) – Regret due to time conflict
• Congressman Sean Duffy (R-WI) –Regret due to time conflict
• Hon. Bob Dechert – Member of the Canadian House of Commons
Special session
- Dr. Robert P. George, Chairman, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)
- Mr. Steven Feldstein, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (DRL)
- ➢ 14:40 – Session 2 – As Goes Egypt, So Goes the Middle East – Chair: Mr. Alex Shalaby, Member, Coptic Solidarity Exec. Committee
- Mr. Eric Trager, Senior Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
- Dr. Herb London, President, London Center for Policy Research
- Q&A
➢ 15:50 – Panel –Western Indifference to Plight of Religious Minorities – Chair: Raymond Ibrahim, Author, columnist
- Mr. Michael Coren, Columnist, author, Radio and TV host, Canada.
- Mr Raymond Arroyo, Anchor, The World Over, EWTN
- Mr. Erick Stakelbeck, National Security Analyst, CBN
- Mr. Ryan Mauro, National Security Analyst
– Q&A
17:00 – E N D
Key Bridge Marriott Hotel (1401 Lee Highway Arlington, VA 22209)
- MECHRIC- Affiliated Organizations (*)
- Mr. Joe Baini, VP, World Maronite Union
- Dr. Joseph Kassab, President, ICAE
- Mr. Loay Mikhael, Iraq Assyrian Council
- Mr. John Hajjar, Lebanese Melkites
- Mr. Tom Harb, MECHRIC
- Dr. Essam Eskander, Philosophy professor and political writer
- Ms. Marina Shalabi, researcher at WINEP
➢ 11:00 Panel- Strategies – Internal & International Roles – Chair Ann Buwalda, Exec Director Jubilee USA
General (ret.) Robert Scales, military analyst, news commentator, and author; former commandant of the U.S. Army War College.
- Mr. David Schenker, Director, Arab Political Program, The Washington Institute for Near East Policies
- Dr. Graeme Bannerman, President, Bannerman & Associates, former Midlle East Policy Staff, Department of State
- Q&A
- Prince Gharios of Ghassan Al-Numaan
➢ 13:30 Keynote Speaker: Kathleen Troia (“KT”) McFarland, Fox News National Security Analyst, a former Pentagon Spokesperson (1981-84)
- Ms. Katherine Gorka, President, Council on Global Security
- Mr. Peter Bhatti, Chairman, Intl. Christian Voice (and brother of the slain Pakistani minister)
- Mr. Doug Bandow, Senior Fellow, Cato Institute
- Mr. Mark Ohanian, Director of Programs, IOCC
- Ms. Sarah Fitch-Roderick, Coalition for the Defense of Human Rights.
- >> Leadership Award to the name of the late Very Rev. Keith Roderick
- Q&A
17:00 E N D
____________________
– The World Maronite Union
– Syriac National Council of Syria
– European Syrian Union
– Melkite Catholics
– Assyrian American National Federation
– Iraqi Christians Advocacy and Empowerment Institute (ICAE)
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Special Dinner
Invited Speakers:
- Mr. Raymond Stock, Author, translator of Naguib Mahfouz novels
- Mr. Iyad Jamal Aldin, Iraqi intellectual, politician and religious cleric
- Mr. Ali Al-Ahmed, Director, The Institute of Gulf Affairs
- Lord David Alton – UK House of Lords
- Dr. Walid Phares Co-Sec. General, Transatlantic Legislative Group.