2005 Speeches

Remarks by Ambassador Jeffrey D. Feltman During YES Barbecue

July 13, 2005

Welcome to our first class of nine YES students.
Welcome to our 22 returning YES students.
Welcome to our 41 departing YES students.
Welcome dear parents.
Friends:

I am thrilled to have this opportunity to welcome you all to the U.S. Embassy as our guests. This isn’t the White House Rose Garden but Awkar is home for Americans diplomats—like myself—who have the privilege of working in Lebanon to strengthen ties between the United States and Lebanon. Today is a diplomatic event—but I’m not the only Ambassador here. Sitting amongst you today are 72 of the finest Lebanese Ambassadors to the United States I can imagine. Welcome to you all and welcome to your wonderful parents, who so generously lent us their precious children to help us strengthen ties between our two countries.

I understand that some of the recently returned YES students are already missing elements of their American life. I hope that this very typical American summer event—an outdoor barbeque with friends—will help alleviate your homesickness. The purpose of this event is, of course, to welcome you back to Lebanon. It is also an opportunity to bring the entire Lebanese YES family together to meet each other and to exchange experiences, anxieties and reassurances. I know you have a lot to share and that getting used to eating dinner at 6:00 p.m. probably wasn’t the only adjustment you had to make in America!

I am proud that the U.S. Government, through the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, funds this scholarship and exchange program. During the past academic year, U.S. Government funding enabled 450 students from Arab and Muslim countries to live with American families, to attend American high schools and to experience first hand the rich diversity of American life. Equally important, the YES program enabled 450 young ambassadors to share their own cultural and religious traditions with Americans who may never have left the small towns in which they live.

I know you have all had an unforgettable experience. I’ve seen some of the emails you’ve sent to Amideast describing your “opportunity of a lifetime.” But your family and friends in Lebanon have also had a transforming year as well with events that are reshaping Lebanon’s destiny.

When you visited the White House, President Bush talked about his confidence in your generation and the role you would play in promoting democracy and freedom in the Middle East. He praised your volunteer work and involvement in American communities. He challenged you to share what you had learned about democracy when you returned home. He encouraged you—who witnessed first-hand America’s own Presidential electoral campaign—to convince others of the value of participating in the democratic process.

Looking at you here today, I feel optimistic about Lebanon’s future and its ability to overcome the political, economic and confessional challenges that have prevented, for too long, the Lebanese people from enjoying prosperity, security and democracy. This year, after the tragic and senseless assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, young Lebanese raised their voices for freedom, sovereignty and independence. Defying what even what their parents thought was possible, they stood up and shouted, “Kafa!” Four months later, they are further along the road to democracy then their parents or grandparents ever expected. I hope, that each one of you will, in your own way, will add your voices to those calling for economic and political reform to ensure that the Lebanese people can enjoy the prosperous, secure and democratic Lebanon they desire and deserve.

Last October when I announced the competition for the 2005-06 YES program, I said I looked forward to shaking the hands of 41 young Lebanese ambassadors who would travel to the U.S. for a year of unforgettable experiences. I hoped we would find the most promising and talented young people to benefit from this wonderful opportunity. Well, we have found them.

I am so pleased to be able to meet you—the Youth Exchange and Study Program Class of 2005-06—before you travel to the United States on this exciting adventure. It reminds me when, as a 16 year old in small town Greenville, Ohio, I took a life-changing trip to Italy as a member of our school’s Latin Club. The experience made me realize how big the world was beyond the boundaries of my home state. I’ve never looked back since—and I expect you won’t either!

But we don’t want you to forget us—or those who traveled with you to the U.S. and so I am pleased to hear that a YES alumni group has been formed. I hope you will be active in helping us publicize the YES program, in speaking about your experiences and in identifying promising candidates.

Before I close there are a number of people I would like to thank for helping the YES students and their families benefit from this exceptional program:

Amideast Director Barbara Batlouni and the Amideast staff, in particular Afifa Arsanios, Hala Kaadi, Samer Abdennour, Khaldoun Bou Assi, Lina Khalia and Nazha Sadek; and Ms. Souhaila Tohme, General Secretary of the Equivalency Committee of the Ministry of Education for her Ministry’s support.

Many of my Embassy staff are here tonight and are eager to talk with you about their home states—and hear about your impressions. I also look forward to talking to you during the rest of the evening. Thank you for joining us this evening.