USAID Holds 5th Annual Iftaar Dinner in Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 /PRNewswire/ — Ambassador Randall L. Tobias,
Director of U.S. Foreign Assistance and Administrator of the U.S. Agency
for International Development (USAID), hosted an Iftaar dinner on Tuesday,
October 17, 2006 with Imam Yahya Hendi, Georgetown University’s full-time
Muslim chaplain, at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C.
Citing the famed Marshall Plan, which guided the rebuilding of Europe
following World War II, Tobias emphasized the U.S. government’s commitment
to assisting Muslim nations, reflecting upon the attitudes about Europe
after World War II and the attitudes towards the Middle East today. He
noted the presence of USAID missions in 27 of the world’s 49 countries
where more than 50 percent of the population practices Islam.
Tobias called upon the themes of “diversity and unity” expressed in the
President’s message for Ramadan this year. “Muslims come from a variety of
ethnic backgrounds, and they embrace a variety of cultural traditions,
social structures and lifestyles,” Tobias said. “Yet, that which unites
Muslims and non-Muslims alike is far greater than that which would divide
us.”
The dinner brought together officials from U.S. and foreign
governments, as well as members of the American Islamic community, to
celebrate the breaking of the fast during the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. In
attendance were Ambassadors from many nations, including Benin, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Cote d’Ivoire, Mauritania, Niger, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan
and other diplomatic representatives from the Embassy of Pakistan,
Bangladesh and Senegal. A number of Arab and Muslim community and grassroot
leaders from such organizations as the American Islamic Congress, American
Task Force on Palestine, The Free Muslim Coalition, The Hariri Foundation
and the Aga Khan Foundation attended along with students from both American
University and Georgetown University.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and
humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years. For more
information about USAID, visit our web site at http://www.usaid.gov.
Public Information: 202-712-4810.
SOURCE U.S. Agency for International Development
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