Forum Agenda and Participant Biographies - Brookings Institution

STEERING COMMITTEE
Stephen R. GRand
director
project on U.S. Relations
with the Islamic World
MaRtIn Indyk
Vice president and director
Foreign policy
kenneth pOLLaCk
Senior Fellow and director
Saban Center at Brookings
BRUCe RIedeL
Senior Fellow
Saban Center at Brookings
SaLMan ShaIkh
director
Brookings doha Center
ShIBLey teLhaMI
anwar Sadat Chair
University of Maryland
WELCOME
Welcome and Ahlan Wa Sahlan!
On behalf of the Brookings Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World, housed
within the Saban Center for Middle East Policy, we welcome you to the 2011 U.S.-
Islamic World Forum. For the first time in its eight-year history, we are delighted to
be able to host the Forum here in Washington, DC. In partnership with the State of
Qatar, Brookings convenes this Forum annually under the gracious auspices of HRH
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar.
In recent months, we have witnessed dramatic events unfold throughout the Middle
East and North Africa. From Tunisia to Egypt to Yemen, citizens are demanding reform
and clamoring for change. This is a historic moment, with implications for Muslims
around the globe and for the United States. As we convene for the first time in
Washington, we look forward to hearing the rich and diverse perspectives of leaders
from throughout the United States and Muslim communities around the globe about
the opportunities and challenges ahead.
This year we have created a variety of different platforms for dialogue and engagement
including:
• Televised plenary sessions that will feature fast-paced, in-depth discussions
among prominent international figures on broad thematic issues of global importance;
• Smaller, concurrent roundtable discussions led by experts and policymakers on
a particular theme or set of countries; and
• A set of working groups which bring together practitioners in a given field several
times during the course of the Forum to develop practical partnerships and
policy recommendations.
We are grateful to the Emir for his leadership and generosity in enabling us to come
together for these three days of thoughtful and candid discussion. We would also like
to thank the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, H.E. Sheikh Hamad bin
Jassim bin Jabr Al-Thani, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their support. Particular
thanks go to H.E. Mohammad Abdullah Mutib Al-Rumaihi, Assistant Foreign
Minister for Follow-up Affairs, and the entire Permanent Committee for Organizing
Conferences staff for their support and dedication in helping organize the Forum.
Thank you for joining us. We look forward to meeting you.
Dr. Stephen R. Grand Durriya Badani
Fellow and Director Deputy Director
Project on U.S. Relations with the Project on U.S. Relations with the
Islamic World Islamic World
2011 U.S.-ISLAMIC WORLD FORUM
Y e A R OF ChAnge
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