Photo By Sgt. Patrick Lair | Mouna Saleh Mahdi al-Umairi, a member of the Council of Representatives in Diyala...... read more read more
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By Sgt. Patrick Lair
115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
BAQOUBA, Iraq— The Diyala Provincial Reconstruction Team welcomed the return of two Diyala public officials from a three-week cultural exchange to the United States at the Governance Center in Baqouba, Nov. 9.
Mr. Emad Jaleel Abdullah, assistant governor for humanitarian affairs in Diyala province and Ms. Mouna Saleh Mahdi al-Umairi, a member of the Council of Representatives, returned Oct. 20 from a brief trip to six U.S. cities, including Washington D.C., San Diego and Austin, TX.
"Their participation in this program is based on their commitment to the people of Diyala province, and to their fine work as members of the Provincial Council," said Mr. John M. Jones, team leader for the Diyala PRT. "We hope that they will share their experience with the people of Diyala."
The exchange was organized through the International Visitor Leadership Program, funded by the U.S. Dept. of State, which brings approximately 5,000 foreign nationals from around the world every year to meet with their professional counterparts in the United States.
"Our experience was unique, for we took an in-depth look at the municipal councils and state councils, and had meetings with congress members and other officials," Abdullah said. "We had meetings with governors in the states, met with different organizations and entities and they enriched us with their experiences and their way of politics."
"The trip was very enriching and very beneficial and we'll share our experiences. We're committed to the future of Diyala," Mahdi said. "My voice was very loud while I was in America and I represented the Iraqi women- how hard they are, how dedicated they are and their zeal and their will."
"We are confident that what they learned will show in the future of Diyala," said Ra'ad Hameed Al-Mula Jowad Al-Tamimi, governor of Diyala province. "We look toward the future so other Arab people can have the chance to go to the United States of America."
At the time he was nominated, Abdullah was the assistant governor for technical affairs for Diyala province. At the time she was nominated, Mahdi was a member of the Provincial Council of Diyala province and on the provincial education committee.
Participants in the leadership program are selected by American Foreign Service officers and are current or potential leaders in government, politics, the media, education, labor relations, the arts, business and other fields. The program was designed to give visitors an appreciation for the political, social, economic, and cultural diversity of the United States.
"The hope is that the contact visitors made with their counterparts will develop and evolve into permanent collegial relationships over time. More importantly, the hope is that the visitors will return home and share with their fellow citizens what they have learned about the United States through their firsthand experience," said Cynthia Ehrlich, public diplomacy officer for the Diyala PRT.
"Especially now, when Americans are hungry for news about Iraq, other than events surrounding the war, we embrace the opportunity to meet Iraqis to learn about them as individuals--as women and men, as mothers and fathers, as daughters and sons--to create an open dialogue with each other to enhance our mutual understanding."
| Date Taken: | 11.09.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 11.14.2007 08:45 |
| Story ID: | 13899 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 74 |
| Downloads: | 58 |
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