PUBLIC DIPLOMACY IN THE NEWS

NOV 11, 2008
US warship on humanitarian mission not aimed at Russia, Venezuela exercises
Agence France-Presse
The six-nation medical mission of a US warship in the Caribbean is not a response to Russian military maneuvers due to take place off Venezuela later this month, the commander of the USS Kearsarge said here Tuesday...The 844-foot long Kearsarge left its home port in Virginia in early August and is now in Guyana providing medical and veterinary treatment, following similar exercises in Nicaragua, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Trinidad and Tobago. Asked whether the vessel's visit was part of US foreign policy and public diplomacy efforts, Ponds emphasized that "my focus and my focus only is humanitarian assistance."  Read more...

NOV 10, 2008
Cuban, Chinese Culture Ministers Meet
Prensa Latina
Culture Ministers Abel Prieto (Cuba) and Cai Wu (China) met in Havana on Monday to exchange views and strengthen bilateral cultural relations. In remarks to journalists, Cai said the main objective of his stay was to exchange the two countries' experiences and success in the construction of culture and Socialism...This is Cai's first visit to a foreign country as a minister.
  Read more...

NOV 10, 2008
Africa, Europe Urged to Intensify Ties
Tanzania Standard
Prejudices, access to markets, lack of trust and colonial memories are the major barriers that hold back Africa and Europe from forging a better partnership. Participants in the Fourth Germany’s Partnership with Africa Forum have pointed out that such a relationship could create better trade opportunities between the two parts...According to another co-Chair of the Forum, Prof Gyima Boadi, participants strongly recommended for increased education exchange programmes for students and experts from Africa and Europe.   Read more...

NOV 10, 2008
How to build sustainable peace
Daily News Egypt
Creating the necessary conditions for sustainable peace requires efforts of a different kind, aimed at generating a mind shift among divided communities. This can be achieved by instilling in people, particularly the young, the values of tolerance and respect for the “other”. People-to-people activities, also known as “city diplomacy”, youth exchange programs and civic education all contribute to this goal. To encourage tolerance and understanding, we also need practical projects that promote collaboration among communities to meet relevant, local needs. For example, in January, the Government of Qatar launched a $100 million youth employment initiative called Silatech. This ambitious project, which will tackle unemployment among young Arabs in the Middle East and offer them prospects for the future, has the backing of a global coalition of leading corporations, civil society and philanthropists.   Read more...

NOV 10, 2008
Obama Doesn’t Wait To Begin Diplomacy
National Journal
As if he needed it, President-elect Barack Obama got a quick lesson in the delicacies of diplomacy as he continued calling world leaders on Friday and through a working weekend. He has now spoken with 18 heads of state or government.  Read more...

NOV 10, 2008
Media Restrictions In Azerbaijan
Voice of America
The United States is deeply concerned by reports that Azerbaijan’s National Television and Radio Council may discontinue local radio broadcasts of international media...Terry Davidson, spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan, said international broadcasting has an important place in Azerbaijan society: "In Azerbaijan, foreign broadcasters, such as Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the BBC have contributed greatly to enriching the space for public debate and understanding.”  Read more...

NOV 10, 2008
Brand Sweden Enters Global Top Ten
The Local
Australia, Canada and the United States are the three countries deemed to have this year's strongest brands, while Sweden joins the list in tenth place for the first time in the index's short four year history  Read more...

NOV 9, 2008
Worldview: Obama has a Chance to Restore U.S. Image Abroad
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Shortly after the election, I moderated a panel of journalists from Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America who discussed "How the World Sees the U.S. Presidential Elections" for the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia. What they said, along with the reaction from other foreign media and leaders, underlines the remarkable opportunities awaiting President-elect Barack Obama. He has a unique chance to stem the tide of anti-Americanism that threatens our security and our ability to lead."That one picture of Obama and his wife, African Americans, holding hands with [Joseph R.] Biden [Jr.] and his wife was worth more than all of the hundreds of millions this administration has spent on public diplomacy," said panelist Paulo Sotero, former Washington correspondent for the Brazilian daily O Estado de S. Paulo...This raises the key question of what Obama can do to cement this new U.S. image before the global euphoria wanes. I put this question to my three panelists; their answers revealed a continued desire around the world for a United States that exerts global leadership, but leadership with a different attitude and tone.  Read more...

NOV 9, 2008
Envoy Stresses Iran-Japan Cultural Commonalties
Fars News Agency
The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Japan further reiterated, "This would pave the path for boosting cultural cooperation between the two countries, the records of whose cultural relations date back to the time of the economic prosperity of the ancient Silk Road." Araqchi and Akira Fujiyura during the meeting meanwhile emphasized the need for increasing the level of cooperation between the two countries' museums' officials, organizing cultural exhibitions at each other's museums, and exchange of researchers in historical and cultural fields.   Read more...

NOV 7, 2008
BBC’s Russian Changes Under Fire
The Guardian
A wide-ranging shake up of the BBC World Service's Russian operations has been criticised by high profile academics and writers, including the Nobel Prize for Literature winner Doris Lessing, who have called the plans "demented". In an open letter, the BBC is accused of caving in to Russian pressure to cut its operations in the region by axing 22 hours a week of programming and dropping long form analytical and cultural programming.  Read more...

NOV 7, 2008
Analyst Says Barack Obama in Unique Position to Address African Issues
Voice of America
Analysts at home and abroad continue to comment on what an Obama presidency will mean for the United States and the world. The former head of a South African opposition political party says Barack Obama's biography could allow him to play a unique role in Africa.  Read more...

NOV 6, 2008
US BBG made statement concerning closure of international media in Azerbaijan
ABC.AZ
BBG member Steven Simmons says that the Board expresses serious protest to the Azerbaijani government in connection with the recent statement in the country about closure of international media broadcasting. “Millions of people in the region trust our high-quality news, information and analysis and we appeal the Azerbaijani government to re-consider its decision. This step is continuation of tendency of grave pressure upon private brodcasters started two years ago and exerting today direct influence on international media,” Mr. Simmons said.  Read more...

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