March 14, 2007 Contact: Sue Baker
For Immediate Release 738-2000
Avedisian to travel to Middle East
He will spend a week through his participation in the Aspen Institute
WARWICK – Mayor Scott Avedisian will travel to the Middle East on Saturday, beginning a week-long trip to the region with 11 other members of the inaugural class of the Aspen Institute/Rodel Fellowships in Public Leadership.
The group departs from New York on Saturday and travels to Israel. They will head first to Cairo, Egypt, where the schedule includes separate meetings with U.S. Ambassador Francis Ricciardone, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, and the National Council for Human Rights. Additional seminars and roundtable discussions are also included in the agenda.
The group will also travel to Amman, Jordan, for meetings with government officials, Young Arab Leaders, members of the Jordan Young Presidents Organization and others, and then on to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Israel, where the schedule includes meetings with a variety of foreign dignitaries and business and political figures, including Shimon Peres or Benyamin Netanyahu, as well as the president of the Bank of Israel; Nir Barkat, Jerusalem Municipal Council and the Israel Chapter of Young Presidents Organization.
Travel to the Northern Border and Jerusalem and Ramallah, Israel are also planned. The itinerary there includes lunch on a kibbutz, a meeting with Mayor of Nazareth Ramiz Jaraisy, an evening walk to the Western Wall, Temple Mount, a tour of East Jerusalem and meetings with Palestinian figures.
In September 2005, Avedisian was selected as only one of 24 elected officials from around the country to participate in the Aspen Institute’s inaugural Aspen-Rodel class. Participants were selected after an eight-month search, which included input from more than 1,400 business, political and civic leaders. The participants were identified as “the true rising stars” of American politics.
The group, comprised of federal, state and local government officials, represents 20 states. The program is designed to “bring together the very best of the nation’s emerging leaders” to discuss broad issues of democratic governance and effective public service.
The fellowships feature a combination of bipartisan retreats, overseas travel, leadership skills training, study and hands-on involvement with contemporary issues.
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