The Middle East Institute’s 66th Annual Conference
November 13-14, 2012
The Grand Hyatt Hotel
1000 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Banquet:
Tuesday November 13
Keynote Speaker: Ambassador (Ret.) Ryan C. Crocker
Ryan C. Crocker recently left his post as U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.
He has also served as U.S. ambassador in Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Kuwait, and Lebanon.
MEI Visionary Award Recipient: Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel
President, Abdul Latif Jameel Co. Ltd.
Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel is a Jeddah-based businessman and noted philanthropist focusing on job creation and poverty reduction. He is chairman of the Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives and founder of The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab at MIT.
Issam M. Fares Award for Excellence Recipient: Dr. Hanan Ashrawi
A noted Palestinian leader, legislator, activist and scholar, Dr. Ashrawi served as a member of the Leadership Committee and the official spokesperson for the Palestinian Delegation to the Middle East peace process beginning with the Madrid peace conference in 1991.
MEI Award for Distinction in Civic Leadership Recipient: Naguib Sawiris
Naguib Sawiris is the executive chairman of the The Orascom Group. He is also the vice-chair of the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, and the founder of the Free Egyptians Party, which promotes democratic values and pluralism in Egypt.
MEI Visionary Award Presenter: David M. Rubenstein
CEO, Carlyle Group
David M. Rubenstein is a co-chief executive officer and managing director of The Carlyle Group. From 1977 to 1981, Mr. Rubenstein was deputy assistant for Domestic Policy to President Carter.
Conference:
Wednesday, November 14
Panel 1: U.S.-Mideast Diplomacy in Transition: New Era, New Principles
Daniel Brumberg, United States Institute for Peace
Reuel Marc Gerecht, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Lawrence Kolb, Center for American Progress
Ellen Laipson, Stimson
Amb. Deborah Jones, Moderator
Panel 2: Challenges Ahead for Egypt
Jonathan Brown, Georgetown University
Nathan Brown, George Washington University
Amr Hamzawy, Egypt Freedom Party
Nancy Okail, Freedom House
Khaled Elgindy, Moderator
Keynote Luncheon
Egyptian philanthropist and businessman Naguib Sawiris
Panel 3: After the U.S. Elections: What’s at Stake for Iran?
Mehrzad Boroujerdi, Middle East Institute
Bernard Haykel, Princeton University
Ray Takeyh, Council on Foreign Relations
Meir Litvak, Tel Aviv University
Barbara Slavin, Moderator
Panel 4: Syria and the Regional Implications of the Crisis
Geneive Abdo, Middle East Institute
Amr Al Azm, Shawnee State University
Saban Kardas, TOBB University
Randa Slim, Middle East Institute
Ekaterina Stepanova, Institute of the World Economy and International Relations
Kim Ghattas, Moderator