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Pierre A. Maroun
Secretary General
ALCC
Senior Policy Advisor
ALC
Secretary General
ALCC
Senior Policy Advisor
ALC
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USAID Public Diplomacy trip to the Middle East (2)
Beirut, Bkerkeh, Zahleh, Bechely, Douma & Kfarkatra – Lebanon:
Wednesday June 14, 2006 attended along with Raouf Youssef, our USAID Director in Lebanon, the launching of the Women Information Technology, an NGO
established to improve the status of all women in Lebanon. Raouf was the key note speaker and he handed the group a $25, 524 grant from USAID.
Thursday June 15, 2006 visited with the Sunni Mufti of Lebanon Sheik Mohammad Kabbani also the Chairman of the Shiite Higher Council Sheik Abdel Amir
Kabalan. Briefed both of the USAID efforts in the broader Middle East and North Africa and reiterated the position of President George W. Bush that the US
support for the freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon and the Lebanese people is a final position of the US government and it is a non-
negotiable issue with any of Lebanon’s neighbors. In the afternoon we visited the Municipality of Zahle which has received USAID technical assistance in
modernizing its computer system and also helped them in the city’s waste water system. The Mayor of Zahleh and his 21-member council hosted the USAID
delegation to a luncheon in “Wady El-Arayech” next to the famous Berdowni River. We ended our visit to Zahleh with a welcome reception attended by more than
120 Maalouf family members at Saint Elias monastery.
Friday June 16, 2006 in the morning I delivered the attached speech titled “My American Experience – A Land of Equal opportunity”. at Notre Dame University in
Louezi Lebanon before the student body and faculty members which was followed by a Q&A. At noon I was received at the Lebanese American University -
Byblos campus where I made the attached presentation titled “U.S. Foreign Assistance – The Challenges” which was followed by a Q&A. In the afternoon we
visited with His Eminence Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Peter Sfeir in Bkerkeh where we briefed his Eminence on USAID efforts in the region and reiterated President
Bush's unequivocal and non-negotiable support of a free, sovereign and independent Lebanon. In the evening, the former Secretary General of the Maronite
League hosted a dinner in honor of USAID which was attended by several deputies and civil society leaders where Raouf Youssef and Walid Maalouf were
honored guests.
Saturday June 17, 2006 visited the Municipality of Douma where USAID had previously supported the renovation of their historic water well and are presently
receiving technical assistance under a program implemented by the State University of New York. We were received the in town square by hundreds of Douma’s
residents and the deputies from the North Mr. Antoine Zahra, Sheik Boutros Harb and former deputy Fares Soueid, the Mayor of Douma and its 19-member
council and local Mayors and Chieftain from the surrounding towns and villages. Raouf Youssef and I will never forget this welcoming reception where people
threw flowers and rice to welcome us. In the evening, the Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce hosted a dinner at the Phoenicia Hotel in honor of USAID.
It was attended by Chris Murray the US Charge D’Affairs.
Sunday June 18, 2006 visited the municipality of Kfarkatra in the Shouf district of Lebanon where USAID had several projects helping this small village where
Walid Maalouf’s ancestors come from. Presently this municipality is receiving technical assistance under a USAID program. We participated in the inauguration
of the newly built Church Hall which funds came from private US donors. Several deputies and dignitaries attend the event including Deputy Elie Aoun, Deputy
Camille Maalouf and others. We visited the Druze community in Kfarkatra. We were received warmly and one of its members received a MEPI scholarship to
spend one month in the United States of America.
The trip was received very positively by the media and the people of Lebanon, as you see from enclosed pictures. Media clips will be emailed separately.
Picture1 Municipality of Bechely’s reception on Main Street.
Picture 2 Raouf Youssef and Walid Maalouf visiting with Patriarch Sfeir
Picture 4 & 5 Municipality of Douma’s reception in the town square.
Thank you,
Walid Maalouf
Director
Public Diplomacy for Middle Eastern & MEPI Affairs
US Agency for International Development
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20523
Phone (202) 712-5161
Fax (202) 216-3237
Beirut, Bkerkeh, Zahleh, Bechely, Douma & Kfarkatra – Lebanon:
Wednesday June 14, 2006 attended along with Raouf Youssef, our USAID Director in Lebanon, the launching of the Women Information Technology, an NGO
established to improve the status of all women in Lebanon. Raouf was the key note speaker and he handed the group a $25, 524 grant from USAID.
Thursday June 15, 2006 visited with the Sunni Mufti of Lebanon Sheik Mohammad Kabbani also the Chairman of the Shiite Higher Council Sheik Abdel Amir
Kabalan. Briefed both of the USAID efforts in the broader Middle East and North Africa and reiterated the position of President George W. Bush that the US
support for the freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon and the Lebanese people is a final position of the US government and it is a non-
negotiable issue with any of Lebanon’s neighbors. In the afternoon we visited the Municipality of Zahle which has received USAID technical assistance in
modernizing its computer system and also helped them in the city’s waste water system. The Mayor of Zahleh and his 21-member council hosted the USAID
delegation to a luncheon in “Wady El-Arayech” next to the famous Berdowni River. We ended our visit to Zahleh with a welcome reception attended by more than
120 Maalouf family members at Saint Elias monastery.
Friday June 16, 2006 in the morning I delivered the attached speech titled “My American Experience – A Land of Equal opportunity”. at Notre Dame University in
Louezi Lebanon before the student body and faculty members which was followed by a Q&A. At noon I was received at the Lebanese American University -
Byblos campus where I made the attached presentation titled “U.S. Foreign Assistance – The Challenges” which was followed by a Q&A. In the afternoon we
visited with His Eminence Patriarch Mar Nasrallah Peter Sfeir in Bkerkeh where we briefed his Eminence on USAID efforts in the region and reiterated President
Bush's unequivocal and non-negotiable support of a free, sovereign and independent Lebanon. In the evening, the former Secretary General of the Maronite
League hosted a dinner in honor of USAID which was attended by several deputies and civil society leaders where Raouf Youssef and Walid Maalouf were
honored guests.
Saturday June 17, 2006 visited the Municipality of Douma where USAID had previously supported the renovation of their historic water well and are presently
receiving technical assistance under a program implemented by the State University of New York. We were received the in town square by hundreds of Douma’s
residents and the deputies from the North Mr. Antoine Zahra, Sheik Boutros Harb and former deputy Fares Soueid, the Mayor of Douma and its 19-member
council and local Mayors and Chieftain from the surrounding towns and villages. Raouf Youssef and I will never forget this welcoming reception where people
threw flowers and rice to welcome us. In the evening, the Lebanese American Chamber of Commerce hosted a dinner at the Phoenicia Hotel in honor of USAID.
It was attended by Chris Murray the US Charge D’Affairs.
Sunday June 18, 2006 visited the municipality of Kfarkatra in the Shouf district of Lebanon where USAID had several projects helping this small village where
Walid Maalouf’s ancestors come from. Presently this municipality is receiving technical assistance under a USAID program. We participated in the inauguration
of the newly built Church Hall which funds came from private US donors. Several deputies and dignitaries attend the event including Deputy Elie Aoun, Deputy
Camille Maalouf and others. We visited the Druze community in Kfarkatra. We were received warmly and one of its members received a MEPI scholarship to
spend one month in the United States of America.
The trip was received very positively by the media and the people of Lebanon, as you see from enclosed pictures. Media clips will be emailed separately.
Picture1 Municipality of Bechely’s reception on Main Street.
Picture 2 Raouf Youssef and Walid Maalouf visiting with Patriarch Sfeir
Picture 4 & 5 Municipality of Douma’s reception in the town square.
Thank you,
Walid Maalouf
Director
Public Diplomacy for Middle Eastern & MEPI Affairs
US Agency for International Development
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20523
Phone (202) 712-5161
Fax (202) 216-3237
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