FY 2006 IVLP - NOMINATION AND PART I BIODATA FOR SIX

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 14 PARIS 004192

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR ECA/PE/V/R/E (CAROL GRABAUSKAS; STEVE TAYLOR);
EUR/PPD (LILLIAN DEVALCOURT)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC SCUL FR
SUBJECT: FY 2006 IVLP - NOMINATION AND PART I BIODATA FOR SIX
PRINCIPAL CANDIDATES FOR SCP - PLURALISM AND DEMOCRACY IN THE
U.S.

REF:

POST WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE SIX PRINCIPAL CANDIDATES FOR
SUBJECT PROGRAM: MRS. NAIMA CHARAI; MR. RACHID BOUMAHDI; MR.
AMAR DIB; MR. BRUNO BEZIAT; MR. ADJI AHOUDIAN; MRS. BLANDINE
CHELINI-PONT.

START FIXED-FORMAT TEXT (PLEASE DO NOT EDIT):
: The following data is in a fixed format which enables
: automated processing in Washington and should not be
: edited except by means of the Post-EVDB software.
EXPORT-SOURCE: POST-EVDB
VERSION: 3.0.7
POST-EMAIL: PaillardS@state.gov
TRANSMITTING-POST: PAS Paris
TRANSMITTING-POST-ID: 14544
EXPORT-TYPE: BIO DATA
START NOMINATION:
ECA-OFFICE: E/VGE
PROG-AGENCY-NAME:
POST-PROJ-ID: 279
ECA-PROJ-NO:
PROJ-NAME: FY 2006 - SCP Pluralism and Democracy in the U.S.
START MEMO PROJ-DESC:
--To provide alternative solutions and approaches to key
issues of integration of immigrant and minority populations,
by understanding U.S. society and values.
--To include overview of U.S. policy and legal and regulatory
structures on discrimination; observance of institutions and
public and private programs facilitating integration of
minorities.
--To understand how our government structure and private
involvement works out issues of religious, racial, ethnic,
cultural differences.
END MEMO PROJ-DESC:
PROJ-TYPE: Single Country Project
PROG-TYPE: IV Grant Visitor
FY: 2006
DEPART-POST:
SESSION-DATE:
RETURN-POST:
NO-OF-PART: 6
RANK-ORDER: 7
START MEMO POST-OBJ:

END MEMO POST-OBJ:
START MEMO POST-RCMD:

END MEMO POST-RCMD:
ECA-OFFICE-ID: 1047
PROG-AGENCY-ID:
PROJ-TYPE-ID: SCP
PROG-TYPE-ID: 29
NOMINATING-POST-ID: 14544
FUNDING-CNTRY-ID:
STATUS: N
ORIGINATOR: P
SUBJ-DISC: Diversity & Pluralism
START BIO:
PREFIX: Ms.
F-NAME: Naima
M-NAME:
L-NAME: Charai
SUFFIX:
POSITION-CODE: 0
PRINCIPAL?: Yes
M-ADDR1: Conseil Regional d'Aquitaine
M-ADDR2: 14, rue Francois de Sourdis
M-ADDR3:
M-CITY: Bordeaux
M-STATE:
M-CNTRY: France
M-ZONE: 33077 cedex
M-ZIP:
M-PHONE: + (33) 5.57.57.80.97
M-FAX: + (33) 5.56.96.46.92
M-EMAIL: ncharai@caramail.com
M-CNTRY-ID: FR
M-ADDRTYPE: B
GENDER: F
DOB: 10/04/1972
MAR-STAT: S
BIRTH-CITY: Taounate
BIRTH-CNTRY: Morocco
CITIZ-CNTRY: France
RES-CNTRY: France
START MEMO POSITION:
Member of the Aquitaine Regional Council, Delegate for Urban
Policy, since March 2004
END MEMO POSITION:
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
2002-2004 - Director of IPPO Association which takes care of
and defends prostitutes
1998-2002 - Volunteer Member of NGO "Medecins du Monde",
coordinator of health care and risk prevention actions
dedicated to homeless and drug-addicts
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
START MEMO US-TRAVEL:
None
END MEMO US-TRAVEL:
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
- London UK, 2004 tourism
- Marrakech (Morocco),2004 tourism and family stay
- Heraklion (Crete),2003 tourism
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
START MEMO EDUCATION:
1998 - Graduate degree in Social Psychology
1997 - Master's degree in Psychology

END MEMO EDUCATION:
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
- Volunteer "Medecins du Monde"
- Member of numerous associations dealing with urban policy as
a Regional Counselor
- Member of the board of various schools in Bordeaux
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
1997 - "Prejuges, discriminations et relations intergroupes"
1998 - "L'acces aux soins: la theorie de l'engagement"
2001 - "Evaluation de la satisfaction des usagers de drogues
pris en charge en medecine de ville"
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
Does not eat pork
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
FIRST-LANG: French
ENGL-READ: 1
ENGL-SPEAK: 1
ENGL-COMP: 1
START OTHER-LANGS:
OTHER-LANG: Arabic
OTHER-LANG-ID: AR
READ: 0
SPEAK: 0
COMP: 0
END OTHER-LANGS:
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
It has always been a goal to reach out to the minority and
immigrant communities in France. Since 9/11, the importance of
reaching out to the Muslim community in particular has also
become a top priority. Naima Charai is one of the few
immigrant women elected officials in France and does not
manifest any strong a-priori anti-U.S. bias. Her main areas of
concern, social and urban problems, are ones that both our
countries devote enormous efforts and resources to, although
pursuing somewhat different approaches. An IV program for
Charai, who has never been to the U.S., would offer the
possibility of creating a strong, favorable impression in
someone who has a profile that we do not often run across and
who has the energy and drive to be present on the political
scene for many years to come.
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:

END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
START MEMO VIS-OBJ:

END MEMO VIS-OBJ:
START MEMO VIS-REC:

END MEMO VIS-REC:
NOMINATING-OFFICER: J. Brinton Rowdybush
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
The Regional Council of Aquitaine covers five departments and
is the third largest in France. It has a budget of some 700
million Euros with broad responsibilities in the areas of
economic development, education, infrastructure, and
transportation. There are 85 elected members of the Council.
Naima Charai is an exception in France: young (32),female,
from an immigrant family of 10 children whose parents are
illiterate, and an elected official (put in an electable
position on the PS electoral list in March 2004). By any
standards she is a classic success story. From doing a
secondary program in sewing and styling, through an individual
effort she was able to re-orient herself and attain
undergraduate degrees in psychology and then go on to two
graduate degrees in the same field.
Early on Charai became involved in association and
humanitarian work. She has worked with Medecins du Monde to
facilitate access to health care for 16-25 year-olds who are
in precarious circumstances and also with young drug addicts.
Starting in 2000 she became involved with prostitution issues
and founded an organization to promote access to health care
for these young women (and sometimes men) from Eastern Europe
and Africa, as well as making them aware of their fundamental
rights.
The same drive and profile that brought her to the attention
of local politicians made the APP aware of her activities. I
had first met her several times when she was sent by the
Regional Council to represent it at various events. Although
on the Left politically, she is not dogmatic in her attitude
toward the United States and is genuinely interested in
learning more about American approaches to social and urban
problems. Although not a practicing Muslim, she comes from
that community and offers an unusual opportunity to make
connections with someone who has made extraordinary strides
herself and is likely to be an increasingly important
interlocutor for the future.
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
NOM-OFF: APP Bordeaux, France
SPEAKER?: No
NOTIFY-EMB: No
MEDIA?: No
HOME-STAY: No
HOME-HOSP?: No
E-I-TYPE:
NOMINEE-ID: 554
PERSON-ID: 453
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: MO
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: FR
RES-CNTRY-ID: FR
FIRST-LANG-ID: FR
E-I-TYPE-ID:
NOM-POST-ID: 14544
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 0
NOM-STATUS: N
DS2019-ACTION: 1
DS2019-SUBJECT:
SPONS-FUNDS: 0
SPONS-AGENCY1:
USGOVT-AGENCY1:
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0
USGOVT-AGENCY2:
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0
INTL-ORG1:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0
INTL-ORG2:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0
COMMISSION: 0
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-CAT:
END BIO:
START BIO:
PREFIX: Mr.
F-NAME: Rachid
M-NAME:
L-NAME: Boumahdi
SUFFIX:
POSITION-CODE: 0
PRINCIPAL?: Yes
M-ADDR1: GREMAQ
M-ADDR2: Universite des Sciences Sociales
M-ADDR3: Place Anatole France - Bat J
M-CITY: Toulouse
M-STATE:
M-CNTRY: France
M-ZONE: 31042 cedex
M-ZIP:
M-PHONE: + (33) 5.61.12.85.43
M-FAX:
M-EMAIL: boumahdi@univ-tlse1.fr
M-CNTRY-ID: FR
M-ADDRTYPE: B
GENDER: M
DOB: 11/29/1964
MAR-STAT: M
BIRTH-CITY: Medea
BIRTH-CNTRY: Algeria
CITIZ-CNTRY: France
RES-CNTRY: France
START MEMO POSITION:
Lecturer in Economics, University of Social Sciences,
Toulouse, since 1992
END MEMO POSITION:
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
Imam, Prayer Center, Portet-sur-Garonne, since 1999
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
1991-1992 - Adjunct lecturer in Economics, University of
Social Sciences, Toulouse
1990-1991 - in charge of tutorials in Economics, University of
Social Sciences, Toulouse
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
START MEMO US-TRAVEL:
None
END MEMO US-TRAVEL:
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
- Chongqing, China - December 2003-January 2004, to train
Chinese students on behalf of Toulouse University of Social
Sciences
- Mecca, Saudi Arabia - August 2003, pilgrimage
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates - May 2000, to represent
Toulouse University of Social Sciences at International
Education Forum
- United Kingdom, Spain, Luxembourg, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco
- 1990's, business (to teach or attend professional
conferences) or leisure (to visit family)
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
START MEMO EDUCATION:
October 1993 - Certificate of ability to direct research,
University of Social Sciences, Toulouse
April 1989-December 1991 - Ph. D. in Economics (with
distinction),University of Social Sciences, Toulouse
October 1987-March 1989 - Doctoral student in Mathematical
Economics and Econometrics, University of Social Sciences,
Toulouse
END MEMO EDUCATION:
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
- Member, Commission of Specialists, University of Social
Sciences, Toulouse, 1995-present
- Member, Board of Directors, Interdisciplinary Think Tank on
Human Resources and Employment, University of Social Sciences,
Toulouse
- Vice President, Association of French Muslims of Portet-sur-
Garonne
- Member, Board of Advisors, Institute of Science and Theology
of Religions, Toulouse, 2000-2003
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
Has published over twenty articles in economic journals and
books, including numerous articles on discrimination in the
job market:

END MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
Eats Kosher meat. Is a practicing Muslim and prays five times
a day but can adjust his prayer pattern to professional
imperatives (i.e. will not interrupt a meeting to pray).
However, sensitivity to his ability to practice his faith
would be appreciated.
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
FIRST-LANG: Arabic
ENGL-READ: 2
ENGL-SPEAK: 2
ENGL-COMP: 2
START OTHER-LANGS:
OTHER-LANG: French
OTHER-LANG-ID: FR
READ: 5
SPEAK: 5
COMP: 5
END OTHER-LANGS:
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
Based on the USG's current efforts to reach out to new
audiences and especially to the Arab-Muslim community, an IV
project for Mr. Boumahdi would be a chance for the USG to have
a significant impact on an influential point of contact for
the Mission in the Toulouse area. Having never visited the
U.S. and coming from an environment where negative sentiments
towards the U.S. tend to prevail, this is an outstanding
opportunity to influence Mr. Boumahdi's perceptions of
American religious culture and policy towards minorities. As a
Muslim leader, his exposure to religious issues in the United
States would very likely help counter many misconceptions
present in the minds of French Muslims due to their current
distrust of the United States based on their perception that
the U.S. are waging a war against Islam. Providing him with a
direct understanding of American values and efforts to fight
discrimination will enable Mr. Boumahdi to gain a realistic
knowledge and perception of the United States. Through Mr.
Boumahdi, the USG can correct misunderstandings about
America's attitude towards religious and ethnic minorities.
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
Having never been to the United States, Mr. Boumahdi is eager
to learn about the U.S. affirmative action policy (its roots,
consequences, and results according to key players in the
field). He is more specifically interested in discrimination
in the job market and would like to meet with non-profits that
deal with discrimination and job integration. He is also
interested in meeting with Muslim leaders as well as with
other minority leaders (Hispanic, African-American, religious
minorities). He would like to better understand the way
American Muslims live and the issues they face, in particular
how they practice their faith and what attitude Muslims in
other parts of the world should adopt towards America and
towards American Muslims. He is also keen to see if Muslims
outside of the U.S. can benefit from American Muslims'
experience with social integration (before and after 9/11),
religious tolerance, and secularism.
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
START MEMO VIS-OBJ:

END MEMO VIS-OBJ:
START MEMO VIS-REC:

END MEMO VIS-REC:
NOMINATING-OFFICER: Helene Mason
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
Through his professional and personal interests, Rachid
Boumahdi is a key player in Toulouse with regard to the many
issues facing Muslim and immigrant communities. A native of
Algeria himself, Mr. Boumahdi arrived in France in 1989 to
pursue his post-graduate studies at the Toulouse University of
Social Sciences thanks to a scholarship awarded to him by the
Algerian Ministry of Higher Education as valedictorian of his
class at the University of Algiers. His subsequent research in
the field of economics has focused in part on discrimination
in the job market in France and abroad. He has already
published articles on this theme and is keenly interested in
the current debate on affirmative action taking place in
France. A deeper understanding of the roots and effects of
affirmative action in the United States would likely impact
his contribution to the French scientific community's debate
on this issue. As a university lecturer currently responsible
for teaching economics to approximately 500 students at
various undergraduate and post-graduate levels and as a likely
future tenured professor, he may also have the opportunity to
teach on this theme to a number of students.
With respect to his personal involvement with the Muslim
community, Mr. Boumahdi is highly regarded as a moderate
preacher and is one of three main local Islamic leaders for a
community of approximately 30,000 Muslims in Toulouse. He has
led prayer meetings -both in French and Arabic- twice a day,
and the Friday prayers in particular, for the past five years
at a cultural center in Portet-sur-Garonne, a close Toulouse
suburbs. There are only approximately eight places of worship
for Muslims in the greater Toulouse area. As one of the few
Muslim preachers in Toulouse, Mr. Boumahdi is a member of the
"Muslim Coordination" group, which brings together the main
Toulouse Imams on a monthly basis to discuss issues and
exchange ideas. He embodies the emergence of a new Muslim
elite in Toulouse and has actively worked in favor of an Islam
disconnected from foreign countries' influence, thus
redefining the place of Islam and its organization in
Toulouse.
Mr. Boumahdi is also involved with the Institute of Science
and Theology of Religions (ISTR) through which he teaches a
course on Islam every trimester to a total of approximately
100 students from the Nursing School, Toulouse Business School
and the National School for Civil Aviation. Until 2003, he was
also involved in the ISTR inter-faith Advisory Board along
with a number of other religious leaders and experts in
Toulouse.
Through his various connections, Mr. Boumahdi's network puts
him on the forefront of the Toulouse Muslim life. His advice
is sought-after by his peers and his influence in the Muslim
community is great, despite his refusal to take part in the
regional chapter of the French Council on the Muslim Faith.
Mr. Boumahdi's open-mindedness also sets him apart and
warrants a beneficial, if not influential, IV visit. He will
no doubt become a university professor, with the added
credibility and influence that this position entails, and has
every intention of continuing to be an active leader in the
Toulouse Muslim community.
Not only would a visit to the United States as an
International Visitor certainly influence Mr. Boumahdi's
vision of religious issues in the U.S., it would also enable
APP Toulouse to establish links with the local Muslim
community. Such connections are difficult to develop,
especially in the current international political situation,
and this would be an effective opportunity to facilitate and
amplify our outreach to the Muslim community.

END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
NOM-OFF: APP Toulouse, France
SPEAKER?: No
NOTIFY-EMB: No
MEDIA?: No
HOME-STAY: No
HOME-HOSP?: No
E-I-TYPE:
NOMINEE-ID: 555
PERSON-ID: 454
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: AG
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: FR
RES-CNTRY-ID: FR
FIRST-LANG-ID: AR
E-I-TYPE-ID:
NOM-POST-ID: 14544
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 0
NOM-STATUS: N
DS2019-ACTION: 1
DS2019-SUBJECT:
SPONS-FUNDS: 0
SPONS-AGENCY1:
USGOVT-AGENCY1:
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0
USGOVT-AGENCY2:
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0
INTL-ORG1:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0
INTL-ORG2:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0
COMMISSION: 0
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-CAT:
END BIO:
START BIO:
PREFIX: Mr.
F-NAME: Amar
M-NAME:
L-NAME: Dib
SUFFIX:
POSITION-CODE: 0
PRINCIPAL?: Yes
M-ADDR1: Conseil General du Rhone
M-ADDR2: 29-31 cours de la Liberte
M-ADDR3:
M-CITY: Lyon
M-STATE:
M-CNTRY: France
M-ZONE: 69483 cedex 03
M-ZIP:
M-PHONE: + (33) 4.72.61.77.77
M-FAX: + (33) 4.78.62.05.41
M-EMAIL:
M-CNTRY-ID: FR
M-ADDRTYPE: B
GENDER: M
DOB: 07/22/1964
MAR-STAT: S
BIRTH-CITY: Lyon
BIRTH-CNTRY: France
CITIZ-CNTRY: France
RES-CNTRY: France
START MEMO POSITION:
Senior Advisor, Local Government Crime Prevention Unit,
Greater Lyon Urban Community, since 2000
END MEMO POSITION:
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
- Administrator of the FASILD (Special Action and Support Fund
for Integration and Anti-Discrimination),a national agency
that support some 6,000 institutions nationwide
- Member of the National Economic and Social Advisory Council
- Publishing Director of "SADMagazine", a monthly national
magazine that targets Muslim readers and covers social,
economic and cultural issues
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
Social Educator, Local Government
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
START MEMO US-TRAVEL:
New York City and Washington D.C. - 1994, one week tourism
END MEMO US-TRAVEL:
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:

END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
START MEMO EDUCATION:
1985 - Graduate Degree in Social Practices, University of Lyon
II
1983 - Degree, Public Notaries School, University of Lyon III
END MEMO EDUCATION:
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
- President of the National Federation of "Convergence" Clubs
(minorities integration institutions)
- Vice-President of "Hospitalite Abraham" (Arab immigration
institution)
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
- March 2005 - "Meeting the Mahdi", Albin Michel
- 2004 - "The Children of the Republic", La Matiniere
- 2003 - "In the Shade of Hatreth", Licorne
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID:

END MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
FIRST-LANG: French
ENGL-READ: 2
ENGL-SPEAK: 2
ENGL-COMP: 2
START OTHER-LANGS:
OTHER-LANG: Italian
OTHER-LANG-ID: JT
READ: 0
SPEAK: 0
COMP: 0
END OTHER-LANGS:
START OTHER-LANGS:
OTHER-LANG: Arabic
OTHER-LANG-ID: AR
READ: 0
SPEAK: 0
COMP: 0
END OTHER-LANGS:
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
Dib's participation in the IVP would contribute to a positive
perception of U.S. immigration and integration policies. It
would also help offset criticism of the U.S. by minority
ethnic groups.
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
Social institutions: federal, state and local immigration and
integration institutions, welfare organizations, social
workers and mediators, police/social institutions/community
partnerships
Ethnic minorities: ethnic groups, media, community
organizations, urban and housing rehabilitation programs,
mosques and churches, groups that integrate refugees and other
immigrants
Judicial: youth-at-risk, juvenile crime prevention units,
youth prisons and rehabilitation centers
Economy: minority business development institutions
Academics: Academic or social experts on affirmative action

END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
START MEMO VIS-OBJ:

END MEMO VIS-OBJ:
START MEMO VIS-REC:

END MEMO VIS-REC:
NOMINATING-OFFICER: Alain Beullard
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
Amar Dib is a sociologist who occupies a series of concurrent
positions, all tied to immigration and integration issues.
Responsible for the Early Prevention Unit of the greater Lyon
urban community, Dib also is an Administrator of the FASILD
(Special Action and Support Fund for Integration and Anti-
Discrimination),a national agency that supports some 6,000
institutions nationwide. In 2002, Dib was appointed a member
of the National Economic and Social Advisory Council. Dib also
is the Publishing Director of SADMagazine, a monthly national
magazine that targets Muslim readers and covers social,
economic and cultural issues. Dib is close to J-L Borloo, the
Minister of Labor and Social Cohesion, who recently tasked Dib
with recommending new policies to facilitate the integration
of immigrants. Borloo asked Dib to place a special focus on
affirmative action in his report. Dib is the author of several
reports on integration policies, including one on housing and
ethnic pluralism that was ordered by the Presidency. He also
produced a study on Islam and integration. Dib is the national
president and co-founder of Club Convergence, a national
network, which gathers some 5,000 intellectuals and upper
class French Arabs. Club Convergences has two primary goals:
not only to serve as role models for young Arabs in France,
but also to serve as "evidence" (to the French authorities)
that French Arabs can serve in positions of responsibility in
numerous different fields. In addition, Dib participates in
numerous outreach programs, seminars and other events
throughout the country.
Dib is expected to pursue an active career that will keep him
close to the highest national political and media circles. As
a prolific author and active network lobbyist he should also
remain an influential relay for new ideas.
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
NOM-OFF: APP Lyon, France
SPEAKER?: No
NOTIFY-EMB: No
MEDIA?: No
HOME-STAY: No
HOME-HOSP?: No
E-I-TYPE:
NOMINEE-ID: 556
PERSON-ID: 455
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: FR
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: FR
RES-CNTRY-ID: FR
FIRST-LANG-ID: FR
E-I-TYPE-ID:
NOM-POST-ID: 14544
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 0
NOM-STATUS: N
DS2019-ACTION: 1
DS2019-SUBJECT:
SPONS-FUNDS: 0
SPONS-AGENCY1:
USGOVT-AGENCY1:
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0
USGOVT-AGENCY2:
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0
INTL-ORG1:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0
INTL-ORG2:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0
COMMISSION: 0
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-CAT:
END BIO:
START BIO:
PREFIX: Mr.
F-NAME: Bruno
M-NAME:
L-NAME: Beziat
SUFFIX:
POSITION-CODE: 0
PRINCIPAL?: Yes
M-ADDR1: Place Jacques Lemoine
M-ADDR2:
M-ADDR3:
M-CITY: Bordeaux
M-STATE:
M-CNTRY: France
M-ZONE: 33000
M-ZIP:
M-PHONE: + (33) 5.56.00.32.28
M-FAX: + (33) 5.56.00.32.17
M-EMAIL: b.beziat@sudouest.com
M-CNTRY-ID: FR
M-ADDRTYPE: B
GENDER: M
DOB: 12/06/1968
MAR-STAT: M
BIRTH-CITY: Perigueux
BIRTH-CNTRY: France
CITIZ-CNTRY: France
RES-CNTRY: France
START MEMO POSITION:
Journalist, Head of the Department "Society", Sud-Ouest
newspaper, Bordeaux, since January 2004
END MEMO POSITION:
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
TV7, presenter for shows on social issues
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
2000-2003 - Journalist, Head of the Department "City of
Bordeaux", Sud-Ouest newspaper
Jan 1999-Dec 1999 - Journalist, Head of Arcachon Office, Sud-
Ouest newspaper
1997-1998 - Journalist, Office of Saintes, Sud-Ouest newspaper
1995-1996 - Journalist, Office of Oloron, Sud-Ouest newspaper
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
START MEMO US-TRAVEL:
- Vermont - 1986, three weeks school exchange
- Montana and Dakota - 1993, two weeks vacation
END MEMO US-TRAVEL:
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
- Canada - 1992-1994, twenty months for professional purpose,
journalist for a French newspaper
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
START MEMO EDUCATION:
1992 - Master's degree in Political Science, University of
Bordeaux IV
1990 - Master's degree in Information and Communication
Sciences, University of Bordeaux III
1989 - Bachelor of Art's degree in sociology, University of
Bordeaux II
END MEMO EDUCATION:
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
Member of the "Club de la Presse" of Bordeaux
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
1995 - present: numerous articles in Sud-Ouest newspaper
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID:

END MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
FIRST-LANG: French
ENGL-READ: 3
ENGL-SPEAK: 3
ENGL-COMP: 3
START OTHER-LANGS:
OTHER-LANG: Spanish
OTHER-LANG-ID: QB
READ: 0
SPEAK: 0
COMP: 0
END OTHER-LANGS:
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
One of our primary tasks is to reach out to the media in order
to achieve balanced and fair coverage of U.S. policies, goals
and values. It is vital to include major local media in this
strategy. For Southwestern France, Sud-Ouest is the major
player and Beziat is one of its rising young stars. He is now
at a point in his career where he will be taking on increasing
responsibilities. A more knowledgeable understanding of the
U.S. as the result of an IV program will have a positive, long-
term impact.
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:

END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
START MEMO VIS-OBJ:

END MEMO VIS-OBJ:
START MEMO VIS-REC:

END MEMO VIS-REC:
NOMINATING-OFFICER: J. Brinton Rowdybush
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
Sud-Ouest is privately held, belonging primarily to the
founding Lemoine family. With an audience of 300-350,000, it
is the leading regional newspaper in the area, and the second
regional daily after Ouest-France. It covers Aquitaine,
Charentes and Gers, and owns local dailies in Pyrenees
Atlantiques, Charentes and Dordogne. Sud-Ouest also owns 50%
of the Bordeaux based local TV station TV7 and operates a
brand new, highly automated printing plant which Ambassador
Leach visited in 2003.
Bruno Beziat has been a journalist with Sud-Ouest for the past
10 years. He served outside of Bordeaux in smaller cities
before being called back to the main office in 2000 to oversee
local Bordeaux coverage and the CUB (Communaute Urbaine de
Bordeaux). He was recently promoted to head up the newspaper's
social and daily life coverage, including the key sector of
education. Beziat's original training is not specifically as a
journalist, but rather in sociology,
information/communication, and political science, all in
Bordeaux, so he is very much a local product.
Even though Beziat has had some limited exposure to the United
States, from a high school trip and from brief visits to the
U.S. when he worked for a weekly in Saskatchewan, Canada, this
was more than 10 years ago. He understands, as does his senior
management, that he would definitely benefit from exposure to
U.S. issues, problems, and approaches today. We have been told
by Sud-Ouest's managing editor that Beziat is being groomed
for increased responsibilities at their publishing group and
they are making a calculated investment in him. We can see why
since he is a dynamic and resourceful individual.
It is well-known that there has been considerable criticism of
and even hostility towards the U.S. in the French media in
recent years. This has not been the case of Sud-Ouest, which
presented balanced coverage, for example, of the American
presidential campaign and has been judicious in its coverage
of the Iraq war. Discussions with Beziat have indicated that
he is open-minded about the United States and curious about
developments there. Selection as an IV would result in many
years of more informed and sympathetic coverage of the U.S. at
a major regional press outlet.
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
NOM-OFF: APP Bordeaux, France
SPEAKER?: No
NOTIFY-EMB: No
MEDIA?: No
HOME-STAY: No
HOME-HOSP?: No
E-I-TYPE:
NOMINEE-ID: 557
PERSON-ID: 456
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: FR
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: FR
RES-CNTRY-ID: FR
FIRST-LANG-ID: FR
E-I-TYPE-ID:
NOM-POST-ID: 14544
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 0
NOM-STATUS: N
DS2019-ACTION: 1
DS2019-SUBJECT:
SPONS-FUNDS: 0
SPONS-AGENCY1:
USGOVT-AGENCY1:
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0
USGOVT-AGENCY2:
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0
INTL-ORG1:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0
INTL-ORG2:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0
COMMISSION: 0
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-CAT:
END BIO:
START BIO:
PREFIX: Mr.
F-NAME: Adji
M-NAME:
L-NAME: Ahoudian
SUFFIX:
POSITION-CODE: 0
PRINCIPAL?: Yes
M-ADDR1: Association "Braves Garcons d'Afrique"
M-ADDR2: s/c Pepiniere Mathis
M-ADDR3: 9, rue Mathis
M-CITY: Paris
M-STATE:
M-CNTRY: France
M-ZONE: 75019
M-ZIP:
M-PHONE: + (33) 1.55.26.82.10
M-FAX:
M-EMAIL: ahoudianadji@yahoo.fr
M-CNTRY-ID: FR
M-ADDRTYPE: B
GENDER: M
DOB: 09/10/1979
MAR-STAT: U
BIRTH-CITY: Tiebele
BIRTH-CNTRY: Burkina Faso
CITIZ-CNTRY: France
RES-CNTRY: France
START MEMO POSITION:
Artistic Committee Referent, "Braves Garcons d'Afrique" - BGA
(immigrant association),since 2001
END MEMO POSITION:
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
Social Mediator for "Immobiliere 3F" (management and building
of social housing),since 2001
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
2001-2004 - President (and founding member) of BGA
1999-2001 - Counselor, Leisure Center
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
START MEMO US-TRAVEL:
None
END MEMO US-TRAVEL:
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
Senegal, 2002 and 2004 - work for "Association BGA"
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
START MEMO EDUCATION:
2001 - Diploma taken after two years at University of
Sociology
1999 - High School diploma in Management and Accountancy
1999 - Camp Counselor Certificate
END MEMO EDUCATION:
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:

END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS:

END MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID:

END MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
FIRST-LANG: French
ENGL-READ: 1
ENGL-SPEAK: 1
ENGL-COMP: 1
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
Adji Ahoudian has demonstrated a clear grasp of the difficult
issues that confront underprivileged youth in France and has
shown his dedication to providing a better life for the
residents of his neighborhood. We believe a greater
understanding of how these issues have been dealt with in the
U.S., and the possibility of associating his goals and
objectives with those of US support organizations for
youth/minorities, will bolster the work of BGA within the 19th
arrondissement. A deeper understanding of U.S. government,
society and culture will also permit him to act as a third
party endorser of our policies and enhance his own active role
as a minority community leader.
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:

END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
START MEMO VIS-OBJ:

END MEMO VIS-OBJ:
START MEMO VIS-REC:

END MEMO VIS-REC:
NOMINATING-OFFICER: Katja Graisse
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
Actively involved in Paris' social arena, Mr. Adji Ahoudian, a
young (25 years old) French of African origin leading a
neighborhood association for young immigrants (Braves Garcons
d'Afrique - Brave Boys of Africa),presents very high
potential in terms of outreach towards a multi-ethnic and
underprivileged community. Born in Burkina Faso, Mr. Ahoudian
came to France at the age of 2. His early experiences and
drive lead him to found "BGA", which is now a key local actor
for the integration of ethnic minorities in Paris' 19th
District. His group has been active in fostering projects,
especially in the artistic arena, aimed at building solidarity
among resident youth of mostly African extraction and at
providing a creative and peaceful alternative to a lifestyle
of violence (of national and international scope). In so
doing, the BGA expects to also facilitate their integration
into French society. Mr. Ahoudian has never traveled to the
U.S. but shows great cultural and artistic (dance & music in
particular) interest in America, especially the African-
American and immigrant community experience.
Adji Ahoudian's work with underprivileged youth in his own
neighborhood would greatly benefit from a trip to the United
States. He would greatly benefit from exposure to social and
cultural community work aimed at integrating minorities and
immigrants within the U.S. and build his own network of
contacts for future development of local and national
projects. This experience would also provide him with a
strong insight to U.S. values and society, leading to an
increased support for U.S. policy positions for himself and
the individuals he deals with on a regular basis and for whom
he represents an alternative leadership.
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
NOM-OFF: PA - U.S. Embassy Paris, France
SPEAKER?: No
NOTIFY-EMB: No
MEDIA?: No
HOME-STAY: No
HOME-HOSP?: No
E-I-TYPE:
NOMINEE-ID: 558
PERSON-ID: 457
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: BN
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: FR
RES-CNTRY-ID: FR
FIRST-LANG-ID: FR
E-I-TYPE-ID:
NOM-POST-ID: 14544
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 0
NOM-STATUS: N
DS2019-ACTION: 1
DS2019-SUBJECT:
SPONS-FUNDS: 0
SPONS-AGENCY1:
USGOVT-AGENCY1:
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0
USGOVT-AGENCY2:
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0
INTL-ORG1:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0
INTL-ORG2:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0
COMMISSION: 0
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-CAT:
END BIO:
START BIO:
PREFIX: Mrs
F-NAME: Blandine
M-NAME:
L-NAME: Chelini Pont
SUFFIX:
POSITION-CODE: 0
PRINCIPAL?: Yes
M-ADDR1: L'Heritiere
M-ADDR2:
M-ADDR3:
M-CITY: Ventabren
M-STATE:
M-CNTRY: France
M-ZONE: 13122
M-ZIP:
M-PHONE: + (33) 4.42.28.76.43
M-FAX:
M-EMAIL: blandine-pont@tiscali.fr
M-CNTRY-ID: FR
M-ADDRTYPE: H
GENDER: F
DOB: 10/22/1965
MAR-STAT: M
BIRTH-CITY: Toulon
BIRTH-CNTRY: France
CITIZ-CNTRY: France
RES-CNTRY: France
START MEMO POSITION:
Associate Professor in History, University of Aix/Marseille
III, since 2005
END MEMO POSITION:
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
In charge of the CNRS research team on "Democracy and
Religion", since 2005
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS:
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
1996-2005 - Associate Professor in History, University of
Aix/Marseille
1992-1996 - High School Teacher in History, Lycee Paul
Cezanes, Aix-en-Provence
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS:
START MEMO US-TRAVEL:
- Washington - 2003, one week for academic research at the
American Public Library
- Salt Lake City, Utah - 2004, 8 days to conduct research at
Brigham Young University
END MEMO US-TRAVEL:
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
- Budapest, Hungary - 2004, conference as guest speaker on
"The Permissible Scope of Legal Limitations on Freedom of
Religion or Belief"
- Italy - 2004, Council of Europe's conference as guest
speaker on "Religion and Public Sphere"
- Tubingen, Germany - 2003, conference as guest speaker on
"The Ethical or Spiritual Foundations of Europe"
- Quebec, University of Laval - 2003, conference as guest
speaker on "Democracy and Religious Pluralism in France"
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL:
START MEMO EDUCATION:
1995 - PHD in Law, School of Law, University of Aix/Marseille
1994 - PHD in History, Paris School of Political Sciences
1988 - succeeded the highly competitive national examination
in History
END MEMO EDUCATION:
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
- American Catholic Historical Association
- European Studies on Religion and State Interaction Network
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS:
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
2003 - "Geopolitique du Christianisme", Ellipses
2004 - "Les Relations entre le Saint-Siege et les Etats-Unis",
Picard
2005 to be published - "Dieu, la France et les Etats-Unis:
quand les mythes font la loi", Berg International
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS:
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID:

END MEMO SPEC-CONSID:
FIRST-LANG: French
ENGL-READ: 3
ENGL-SPEAK: 3
ENGL-COMP: 3
START OTHER-LANGS:
OTHER-LANG: German
OTHER-LANG-ID: GM
READ: 0
SPEAK: 0
COMP: 0
END OTHER-LANGS:
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
In advocating societies where religion and democracy have
important role, Dr. Chelini-Pont is in a unique position to
have a significant impact on curriculum development. Her
nomination will strengthen an already well-established faculty
where her teaching will influence the nation's future leaders.
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ:
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
It is important for Dr. Chelini-Pont to have exposure to both
American notions of the separation between Church and State
and also the central role that religion plays in American
life. It would be useful for her to meet religious leaders
within their communities (priests, ministers, rabbis, and
imams) to observe the ways in which organized faith can
interact with democracy. She should speak to someone in the
government who can describe faith-based approaches to societal
problems. She should also visit with professors of theology,
universities with religious affiliations and centers of
ecumenical activity on campus (for example: the Neuman Club at
the University of California in Berkeley).
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD:
START MEMO VIS-OBJ:

END MEMO VIS-OBJ:
START MEMO VIS-REC:

END MEMO VIS-REC:
NOMINATING-OFFICER: Josette Steinbach
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
Long before religious pluralism and its
confrontation/collision with the state became a hot issue in
France, University Professor, Blandine Chelini-Pont designed
two curricula on "Religion and Democracy" and "Secularism and
Education" that received the Ministry of Education's
accreditation: She has been teaching these courses for six
years at the graduate level at the Marseille Law School and at
the School of Political Science, the only institutions in
France of higher learning where such curriculum is being
offered.
At age 39, a mother of five children, Dr Chelini-Pont is
brilliant but modest. She admits to many sleepless nights
while securing her reputation as a prolific author, and sought-
after speaker on matters of religion, ethics, politics and
culture. Her expertise on the history of religion and its
interaction within the public sector, as well as her recent
research on religious identity and the role of Islam in France
prompted a special consultant's assignment at the Council of
Europe. She also is a regular guest speaker for the Committee
on "Religion and Politics" at the Quai d'Orsay. Last year, she
was named special consultant within the Academy of
Aix/Marseille (the representation of the Ministry of Education
in the region) for the period 2004-2006 where she will conduct
a seminar for all the directors of regional high schools on
"education and secularism".
After the publication of her sixth book in 2005 "Dieu, la
France et les Etats-Unis: quand les mythes font la loi", she
hopes to introduce aspects of U.S. studies into the curriculum
at Marseille Law school. An invitation to the U.S. would be
very timely as it would give her first hand exposure to the
intellectual climate in which American religious thought and
practice have influenced and been influenced by the
development of American democracy. So far, she has only gone
twice to the U.S. for research at libraries, it would be
beneficial to expose her to a multi-disciplinary approach
where she would meet with American government officials, NGOs,
lawyers, minority groups, religious leaders, and of course
other academics.
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION:
NOM-OFF: AmGenCon Marseille, France
SPEAKER?: No
NOTIFY-EMB: No
MEDIA?: No
HOME-STAY: No
HOME-HOSP?: No
E-I-TYPE:
NOMINEE-ID: 559
PERSON-ID: 458
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: FR
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: FR
RES-CNTRY-ID: FR
FIRST-LANG-ID: FR
E-I-TYPE-ID:
NOM-POST-ID: 14544
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 0
NOM-STATUS: N
DS2019-ACTION: 1
DS2019-SUBJECT:
SPONS-FUNDS: 0
SPONS-AGENCY1:
USGOVT-AGENCY1:
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0
USGOVT-AGENCY2:
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0
INTL-ORG1:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0
INTL-ORG2:
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0
COMMISSION: 0
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-AMOUNT: 0
VIS-CAT:
END BIO:
END NOMINATION:
END FIXED-FORMAT TEXT:

WOLFF