Jordan’s Prince Zeid to speak at Indiana University’s Whittenberger Auditorium
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 7, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein, the Jordanian Ambassador to the United States, will talk about the role of the incoming U.S. administration in the future of the Middle East on Monday (Oct. 13) in Indiana University Bloomington's Whittenberger Auditorium. The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Prince Zeid Ra'ad Zeid Al-Hussein
Prince Zeid will be joined by Feisal Istrabadi, a visiting law Professor at the Indiana University School of Law--Bloomington, and former Iraqi Ambassador to the United Nations. Istrabadi, an Indiana Law alumnus, said, "Prince Zeid is one of the most respected and influential diplomats in the world today, and he will bring a unique perspective on a diversity of issues with which he has first-hand experience."
"U.S. Policy and the Future of the Middle East: A Conversation with Prince Zeid, Jordanian Ambassador to the United States," will give the public a rare opportunity to hear directly from a top official in a Middle Eastern government. Prince Zeid is expected to touch on a number of topics, as well as take questions from the audience.
"Prince Zeid will address a wide range of issues affecting the Middle East, from the future of Iraq to the status of the Arab-Israeli peace process," said Miles Taylor, director of the Student Alliance for National Security. "He will also discuss the role of U.S. policies in the region, from the war on terror to confrontation over Iran's nuclear program. As a top representative from one of the region's most influential countries, Prince Zeid brings an important perspective to these critical issues."
Prince Zeid has a wealth of international experience in politics, justice and peacekeeping. In addition to serving as Jordan's Ambassador to the U.S., Prince Zeid also serves as the Jordanian non-resident Ambassador to Mexico.
From 2000 through 2007, he was the kingdom's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Prince Zeid played a central role in the establishment of the International Criminal Court and was elected as the first president of the ICC's governing body in September 2002. In 2004 Prince Zeid was appointed as Advisor to the Secretary-General on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse after allegations of widespread abuse by U.N. peacekeepers in Africa surfaced. Prince Zeid's report on the allegations -- lauded for its approach -- outlined strategies for the elimination of sexual exploitation and abuse by U.N. peacekeepers.
Prince Zeid served on the U.N. committee that helped resolve the border dispute between Benin and Niger and was appointed by his government to serve as Jordan's representative before the International Court of Justice as it related to the Israeli wall construction in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
His visit is being co-sponsored by Indiana Law and the Student Alliance for National Security.
