UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 002416

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/PPD; ALSO FOR NEA/ELA, IIP/SC AND ECA/P

E.O. 12958: NA
TAGS: SCUL OEXC KPAO EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT PUBLIC DIPLOMACY RESULTS AND ACTIVITIES
(03/09/05 - 03/24/05)

REF: CAIRO 2097

Public Diplomacy programming in Egypt for this
reporting period continued to address the full range of
Post's MPP themes. This programming included an
exchange alumni gathering, a book fair, and a Women's
History Month program. Post also recorded positive
results from an exchange program participant who
reconnected with an Embassy-sponsored American theater
director, from a children's literature speaker who
influenced local publishers to work more with the
Embassy, and from increased cooperation with the
Egyptian Council of Universities. Summary reports
follow. Reftel is post's most recent prior submission
for NEA/PPD reporting and IIP's PD results database.

--------------
RESULTS
--------------

(03/21/05) MISSION SUPPORTED DIRECTOR TO HEAD THEATER
PRODUCTION IN CHICAGO

During her participation in the International Visitor
Leadership Program, a top Egyptian theater director,
Efat Yehia, reconnected with an American director
brought to Egypt in 2004 by the Embassy to direct a
Mission-sponsored, Arabic language production of
Thorton Wilder's "Our Town." During their reunion,
the two planned for further Egypt-American theater
exchanges, and Yehia was asked to direct an American
play in Chicago.

MPP GOAL: MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING


(03/22/05) EGYPTIAN COUNCIL OF UNIVERSITIES AGREES TO
PROMOTE USG "PLUS" SCHOLARSHIPS

As a result of a meeting with Embassy's educational
advising contractors, the new Secretary General of the
Supreme Council of Universities promised to play an
active role in promoting two-year "PLUS" scholarships
to an American university, and he said that he would
personally contact the deans of the relevant faculties
at all Egyptian public universities to ask them to
nominate candidates. He agreed to begin informing
students about the "PLUS" program during this academic
year, so that they can prepare well in advance of the
October application deadline.

MPP GOAL: MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING


(03/18/05 03/26/05) EMBASSY-SPONSORED SPEAKER
ENLIVENS ARABIC BOOK PUBLISHING CONTACTS BY
HIGHLIGHTING IMPORTANCE OF CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

During a week-long Embassy-sponsored speaking tour,
The New York Times' Children's Book Editor, Eden Ross
Lipson, addressed Egypt's most important children's
book publishers, writers, illustrators, critics,
reviewers, and librarians at several events in both
Cairo and Alexandria. Lipson spoke about the history
of children's literature in the United States and
about modern trends in children's book publishing.
Her appearance in a thirty-minute primetime live
broadcast on Egypt's national Channel 2 reached an
estimated 2 million viewers. Other media coverage
included additional TV, radio and print. Stirred by
Lipson's enthusiasm and the lively discussions at
these events, several local publishers have re-engaged
with the Embassy's Regional Arabic Book Office (RBO)
and proposed to collaborate on the publication of
Arabic-translations of American youth literature.

MPP GOAL: MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING


--------------
ACTIVITIES
--------------

(03/09/05) EMBASSY REKINDLES CONTACT WITH EXCHANGE
ALUMNI

In the first of what will be a series of salon-like
gatherings, the Embassy hosted a small-group gathering
of exchange alumni and Mission personnel for a
discussion on U.S. economic policy and the economic
situation in Egypt. Exchange alumni in the field of
economics and finance were invited to meet and interact
with officers and locally employed staff involved in
economic work. A lively discussion and new contacts
resulted. Future gatherings will focus on a variety of
topics, but will continue to emphasize bringing
exchange alumni back in touch with Embassy personnel
and activities.

MPP GOAL: ECONOMIC PROSPERITY


(03/22/05-03/23/05) AMERICAN CENTER ALEXANDRIA'S
LOCAL BOOK FAIR RECORDS YEAR'S HIGHEST BOOK SALES

The American Center in Alexandria (ACA) hosted a two-
day in-house book fair featuring products from the
Regional English Language program and the Regional
Arabic Book Translation Program. The event, formally
opened by the Governor of Alexandria, along with the
Alexandria PAO and the Cairo-based Regional English
Language Officer, not only showcased USG publications
and teaching materials, but also hosted a viewing of
the PBS series "Do You Speak American?" and it
distributed numerous complimentary copies of "Hi"
magazine and other IIP publications. Total sales
topped the Embassy's earlier sales this year at both
the Cairo and Alexandria Book Fairs. Attendees, who
included academics and students from high schools and
universities, encouraged the ACA to host other such
book fairs. AMIDEAST also participated, staffing an
exhibit table with information about study in the U.S.

MPP GOAL: MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING


(03/16/05) AMERICAN CENTER IN ALEXANDRIA CELEBRATES
EGYPTIAN-AMERICAN CULTURAL CONNECTIONS WITH CONCERT OF
WORKS BY EGYPTIAN COMPOSER

In celebration of Egyptian-American cooperation and
appreciation of the arts, the American Center in
Alexandria hosted a by-invitation concert of the music
of Egyptian composer Sayed Darwish. In introducing
the event, the Alexandria PAO praised the richness of
Egyptian musical culture and drew parallels between
the life of Sayed Darwish and that of American
composer George Gershwin, both of whom were concerned
with developing a national vocabulary in song and
dance. The program was prominently featured on local
television news programs and broadcast in its entirety
on Alexandria's Channel 5-TV.

MPP GOAL: MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING


(03/17/05) COLLOQUIUM ON "VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN" AT
THE AMERICAN CENTER IN ALEXANDRIA

In celebration of women's history month, the American
Center in Alexandria (ACA), in cooperation with a
local NGO, hosted a program on "Violence Against Women
in Egypt: Causes and Remedies." Panelists included
government officials, activists, judiciary officials
and legislators. After the discussion, participants
began to draft a proposal for a new law on violence
against women for submission to the Egyptian
government, and they announced the establishment of
the "Al Nadim Center for Victims of Violence" in
Alexandria. Participants received a portfolio of ACA-
prepared documents that included information from the
IIP website "Combating Violence Against Women." The
event was featured on local television news.

MPP GOAL: MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING

GRAY