A press conference will be held at the Fatah Al Khaer in the Ritz Carlton at 3 p.m on February 16th, to brief the media on the goals and provide a key insight into the workings of the conference.
This annual dialogue, made possible by the vision and support of Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Government of the State of Qatar, has become the premiere convening body for American and Muslim world leaders in the fields of politics, business, media, academia, science, arts, and civil society.
This year’s gathering, under the theme ‘Confronting What Divides Us,’ will bring together some 200 leaders from 34 countries across the Islamic world and the United States. These leaders from both religious and secular backgrounds will represent progressive, moderate and conservative political approaches. The underlying goal of the forum is to improve U.S. relations with the Islamic world and is designed to bring together key leaders from politics, business, media, academia, the arts, and civil society for frank dialogue and to forge positive partnerships.
This year’s speakers include prominent current and former government officials like His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al Thani, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh, , Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Bin Syed Jaafar Albar, Dr. Philip Zelikow (former Counselor to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice), Palestinian legislator Ziad Abu-Amr, former Sudanese Prime Minister Al Sadig Rahman al-Mahdi, and former Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah. It will also feature prominent religious figures like Sunni cleric Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Iraqi Shiite cleric and parliamentarian Jalal al-Din al-Sagheer, American evangelical mega-church leaders Bob Roberts, Jr., and Joel Hunter, and Sudanese religious and legal scholar Abdullah An-Naim; famous artists like Paradise Now producer and director Hany Abu Assad, Iranian filmmaker Bahman Farmanara, former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky, and Pakistani rock star Salman Ahmad; and world-class journalists like Washington Post columnist David Ignatius and assistant managing editor Rajiv Chandrasekaran, New York Times reporter Jane Perlez, Daily Star Editor-at-Large Rami Khouri, and CNBC Arabiya Chairman.
Past Forums have established that, immense change has taken place in the relationship between the U.S. and the wider Muslim world since 9-11. In addition to the dialogue and debate, among the most heartening aspects of the meetings are the various networks and endeavors that are sparked by convening so many dynamic leaders. These included the construction of series of schools and human development initiatives in the region, the formation of a Muslim American foreign policy caucus, and the initiation of ‘track two’ diplomatic talks for certain conflict zones.
