Egyptian Foreign Ministry Official Lectures at FSI

In continuation of its Ambassadorial Lecture Forum, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Gabriel L. Dennis Foreign Service Institute (FSI) will host a Counselor at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohammed Kazem during its fourth lecture forum on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at 4: 30 p.m. at the C. Cecil Dennis, Jr. Auditorium.

Dr. Kazem, who holds a Ph.D in International Relations and Public Diplomacy, is also a singer-song writer and musician. He will discuss the topic: ‘In Search of Understanding’ Initiative Comes to Liberia, a program of discussion and music aimed at fostering peace and understanding among the world’s peoples.

‘In Search of Understanding’ is a Public Diplomacy Initiative intended to foster a culture of peace, created and implemented by Dr. Kazem. The initiative aims to help alleviate problems related to mutual lack of understanding, distorted stereotypes and negative imagery of ‘the other’ among the world’s peoples through a synergy of diplomacy, dialogue, lyrics, music and audiovisual materials.

This synergy intends to stress what is shared between and common to us all, ideally culminating in greater mutual understanding and acceptance, and a better future for all human beings. The FSI, in an effort to fully enhance the capacity of its students and also pay tribute to all former Liberian Ambassadors, introduced the ambassadorial lecture forum in 2010.

Guest lecturers from diplomatic missions, as well as representatives of International Organizations accredited near Monrovia are invited to lecture on various topics including economics, politics, culture, consular, diplomacy and dialectics as part of the training program to give students of the FSI more exposure in the art of diplomacy.

When the Ambassadorial Lecture Forum was launched on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Chief Ojo Maduekwe, CFR served as the first Guest Lecturer.

He spoke on the topic: “The Foreign Policy of Nigeria”. That lecture series gave recognition to Liberia’s first Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Charles T.O. King.

The second Ambassadorial Lecture Forum was held on Wednesday, August 18, 2010 with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Arab Republic of Egypt, His Excellency Ahmed Fadel Yakuob serving as Guest Lecturer. He spoke on the topic: “History of Egypt’s Diplomacy and the Role of Egypt in the Regional Economic Blocs”. That lecture series gave recognition to Liberia’s first Ambassador to Egypt, the late Ambassador James Dennis.

The third Ambassadorial Lecture Forum was held on Wednesday, October 26, 2010 with the Deputy Commander for Civil-Military Activities of the United States – Africa Command, Ambassador J. Anthony Holmes serving as the Guest Lecturer. He spoke on the topic: “AFRICOM and its Mission”.

In addition to these lecture forums, other guest lecturers, including the ambassadors of the United States, France and China, have been invited to give regular classroom lectures to the students who are enrolled in the “Development Diplomacy” training program to buttress the daily classroom lectures. The German and British Consuls as well as the Commissioner of the Liberia Maritime Authority have also given lectures.