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2023 Spring Forum & Annual Meeting
Prospects for Peace:
Challenges Facing the Middle East & North Africa
June 13, 2023
6:00 - 7:00 pm
Hospitality Center
Southern New Hampshire University
A region of profound complexity and constant transformation, the Middle East is an important player on the world stage, despite the United States' interest in stepping back from the region. With conflicts across the Middle East and North Africa continuing to destabilize the area, the risks of global impacts continue to rise. In addition, as the United States focuses less on this part of the world, space opens for revisionist powers, China and Russia, to shape the region towards their own interests. This will have long lasting effects on Human Rights, economies, and political systems of these countries, which will not reflect the values and interests of the U.S. and its allies. With an eye to the upcoming Presidential Primary season, the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire has the honor to host our annual Global Forum, headlined by former Egyptian Ambassador and Senior Fellow at the U.S. Institute of Peace, Amb. Hesham Youssef.
The Global Forum is New Hampshire's premier global event, bringing together the international community for conversations on critical issues shaping the world today. By attending this event you will gain insights into the pressing issues facing the region; from the various ongoing conflicts, to the reshaping of the regional power structures. You will also gain a better understanding of the key interests and needed conditions to promote peace in this region, which will bring local, regional, and international benefits. Finally, you will provide needed support for WACNH to continue providing the important, engaging, and vital programs to the people of New Hampshire and beyond. You will not want to miss this global event and the opportunity to hear from and question Ambassador Youssef to make your voice heard and prepare yourself as you consider your choices for the next leader of the United States.
In addition, this year the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire has combined the Global Forum with its Annual Meeting. During the reception, WACNH will provide members with an update on 2022 and all the organization accomplished. A vote on new and returning board members will be held, ensuring a strong, stable, and bright future for this global community.
EVENT AGENDA:
5:00 pm - Reception Doors Open
5:30 pm - Annual Meeting Begins
6:00 pm - Global Forum Begins
7:30 pm - End of Event
7:45 pm - Sponsor Post Event Dinner
About the Speaker
Ambassador Hesham Youssef was a career diplomat with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt. From 2014-2019, he served as assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian, Cultural and Social Affairs of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and completed his term in July 2019. From 2001-2014, he served as a senior official in the Arab League, as Official Spokesman and later the Chief of Staff to Secretary General Amr Moussa from 2003- 2011. From 2012-2014, Ambassador Youssef was a Senior Advisor to the Secretary General of the Arab League, Dr. Nabil Elaraby, on issues pertaining to crisis management as well as the reform of the Arab League.
Ambassador Youssef has worked extensively on conflict resolution in the Middle East and in particular the Arab Israeli conflict, reconciliation in Iraq and the situation in Sudan. He has written several papers on reform in the Arab world and focused in the last five years on fragility and the humanitarian situation in the Islamic world, in particular in Somalia, the Palestinian Territories, Chad, Niger and Myanmar.
Ambassador Youssef joined the Egyptian Foreign Ministry in 1985. He was posted to the Egyptian Embassy in Canada (1988-1992) and the Egyptian Mission in Geneva where he focused on economic and trade issues in the United Nations and the World Trade Organization (1995-1999). He was a member of the Cabinet of the Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs in the periods 1992-1995 and 1999-2001.
In Partnership with:
Patron Sponsors:
Anna Berry
Bill Dunlap
Carolyn & Philip Hollman
Gordon & Patty Humphrey
Richard Lobban
Kathryn & Jim Muirhead
Jack & Carol Resch
Carolyn Richmond
David & Missie Schroeder
Helen Taft & Peter Bowman
