BAHRAINI JOURNALIST DESCRIBES FOREIGN PRESS CENTER

UNCLAS MANAMA 001691

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, PA/PR/FPC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KFPC KPAO BA
SUBJECT: BAHRAINI JOURNALIST DESCRIBES FOREIGN PRESS CENTER
PROGRAM AS "HORIZON BROADENING"

REF: STATE 60805


1. Abbas Busafwan, Manama's participant in the Foreign
Press Center's reporting tour about Arab American and other
ethnic communities (May 16-29, 2004),told the APAO that the
program had deepened his understanding about America and
broadened his horizons. The reporting tour was his first
visit to the U.S. Busafwan is the head of the local news
desk and a columnist at "Al Wasat" Arabic newspaper where he
covers Bahrain's democratization and reform efforts. He
said that meeting with a widely diverse group of American
communities was especially helpful, mentioning the meetings
with Muslim Americans in Michigan, Cuban Americans, and
Coptic Orthodox Christians. Busafwan said that the
highlight of the tour was a discussion about political
lobbies with University of Michigan faculty, "The meeting at
the U. of Michigan gave us a complete picture of how the
different communities and interest groups work within the
American system to achieve their goals."


2. Busafwan believes that Arab journalists would be
interested in FPC programs on how the U.S. press covers the
three branches of government, the press and the judicial
system, academic freedom, and the role of ethics in the
media.


3. (Comment: Bahrain is a small, yet very diverse country,
and one of post's goals in nominating Busafwan was to expose
him to how diverse communities can work together
productively in a thriving democracy. Kudos to FPC, which
more than met post's goals with this reporting tour program.
End comment.)

Monroe