Spring Break
Ambassador for League of Arab States explains conflict in Middle East
Brittney Ferris / Staff Reporter
Issue date: 3/10/09 Section: News
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During his presentation Monday night in the Doudna Fine Arts Center, Hussein Hassouna said the media has an important role in forming people's perspectives, but it can have a negative impact on how people view others.
Ping Chen, director of the Public Policy Institute in the College of Sciences, set up three panels and a keynote address concerning the Middle East crisis for the all-day conference.
As an ambassador for the League of Arab States, Hassouna represents 22 Arab countries in Washington, D.C.
The league has grown from the original seven states that first comprised it in 1945. It is similar to the Pan-American Union or the European Union.
Hassouna said he immediately accepted the offer to come here because he thinks it is important as an ambassador to explain problems. He wanted to help members of the university understand complex issues.
"There are always two sides to a coin, and sometimes people are not exposed to the truth," he said.
He explained how the Obama administration has made strides toward dealing with problems in the Arab states by using dialog instead of confrontation.
Hassouna cited President Obama's outlaw of torture during interrogations and closing Guantanamo Bay as two ways he has started this movement.
He also spoke about the efforts put forth by the league to initiate peace within the Middle East.
It has tried to unify Palestine and resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The league has worked on creating free trade zone agreements, developing a zone free of weapons of mass destruction and forming a unity government on a platform of peace.
"These are very complex issues, and it was a wonderfully comprehensive view in an hour," said Jeffrey Lynch, associate dean for the College of Arts and Humanities, after the speech.
Along with Hassouna, Robert Schwartz, the senior policy adviser to the Consulate General of Israel, was invited to take part in two afternoon panels: "The Challenges of Iran to the West and the Arab World" and "Palestine and Israel: A Two-State Solution."
Schwartz faced some controversy in the second panel about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict when an audience member walked out after hearing the answer to his question.
"He's entitled to disagree with me," Schwartz said. "All I ever ask is to be asked a reasonable question and I'll be happy to answer it."
Schwartz represented the Israeli view during the panel. He said Israel has signed treaties with both Egypt and Jordan, and the fighting has stopped. The reason Israel and Palestine have not found peace is because Palestine refuses to recognize Israel as a country.
"The important thing is how Israel can talk to someone on the other side who will make good on what they say will happen after a treaty is signed," Schwartz said.
The problems in the Middle East are complex and involve a lot of history.
"Yes, there are great challenges in our region, but also great opportunities," Hassouna said. "The best way to fix the problems is to work together."
Brittney Ferris can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENnewsdesk@gmail.com.
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