Egypt – U.S. Relations in a New Era
A Workshop convened by
The Prince Alwaleed Center for American Studies and Research, School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, American University of Cairo; Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University
and
The Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution
Cairo, May 7 and 8, 2014
Day 1: May 7 2014
08:30 Registration / Coffee
09:30 - 10:00 Opening Remarks
Moderator: Magda Shahin, Director, Prince Alwaleed Center for American Studies and Research, School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, AUC (CASAR)
Dr. Lisa Anderson, President, American University in Cairo
Dr. Hala El Said, Dean, Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University
Dr. Tamara Cofman Wittes, Director, Saban Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution
10:00 – 12:00 Session One:
Responding to New Domestic and Global Challenges
Moderator: Magda Shahin
Dr. Tamara CofmanWittes, Director, Saban Center for Middle East Policy, Brookings Institution
Dr. MustaphaAl Sayed, Professor of Political Science, Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University
Ambassador M. Anis Salem, Board Member& Coordinator, Working Group on the United Nations, Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs
This session will contextualize relations between the two countries within a changing political and economic world order.
12:00 – 12:30 Coffee Break
12:30 – 2:00 Session Two:
Military and Security Co-operation
Moderator: Dr. ShibleyTelhami, Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland and nonresident senior fellow of the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution
Mr. Mohamed Megahed Al Zayat, Director, National Centre of Middle East Studies, Cairo.
General Mark Kimmit, formerdirector of Strategic Planning at CENTCOM, deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, and assistant secretary of state for politico-military affairs.
This session will discuss military and security co-operation. Examples of topics to be discussed:
a. How the two countries view the future of their strategic and military relations with pragmatic frameworks for the way forward
b. Counterterrorism/Sinai
c. Intelligence cooperation
d. Arms/human trafficking across borders
2:00 – 3:00Lunch
3:00 – 4:30 Session Three:
Divergent Perspectives on Political Issues
Moderator: AmbassadorDr. MoushiraKhattab, Former Minister of Family Affairs
Mr. Khaled Mansour, Executive Director, Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
Mr. KhaledElgindy, Fellow, Saban Center for Middle East Policy
This session will examine perspectives of the two parties on issues of Egypt’s domestic political transition, such as:
a. Democratic transition,
b. Human rights, including minority and women rights
c. Freedom of Association
d. Good governance
4:30 – 5:00Coffee Break
5:00 – 6:30 Session Four:
Economic Co-operationA:New Horizons on Aid, Trade, and Development
Moderator: Dr. Hala El Said, Dean, Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University
Dr. KhaledZakareyaAmin, Associate Professor at the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, the American University in Cairo and the School of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University.
Ms. Amy Hawthorne, Resident Senior Fellow, Rafik Hariri Center for Middle East, Atlantic Council of the United States
This session will consider the role of the two governments in enhancing economic co-operation through increasing the effectiveness of limited economic assistance, expansion of trade relations and promotion of inclusive economic development. This will also include U.S. engagement with other donor states and institutions, and questions of macroeconomic policy.
7:30- 9:30 Dinner:
Keynote speaker: H.E. Minister Nabil Fahmy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Egypt (or alternative).
Day 2:
9:30 – 10:30 Session Five:
Economic Cooperation
B. Private Sector Economic Relations: Development, Investment, and Trade
Egypt as a Regional Hub
Moderator: Dr. Tamara Wittes, Saban Center
Dr. Magda Shahin, Director, CASAR
Dr.OmneiaHelmy, Acting Executive Director and Director of Research, The Egyptian Center for Economic Studies and Professor of Economics, Cairo University
Dr. Jon Alterman, Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair and Director of the Middle East Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Ismail Habrouk, CEO of Education for Employment Foundation-Egypt (to be confirmed)
NevineElKadi, Senior Manager, MENA Corporate Affairs, Cisco Systems Egypt (to be confirmed)
This session will explore private-sector economic ties between the two nations, trade and investment, issues for private sector growth, and the potential of Egypt as a regional economic hub.
10:30 – 12:00 Session Six:
Internal dynamics: public perceptions and intercultural relations
Moderator: Dr. Paul Salem, Vice President of the Middle East Institute
Dr. HananBadr, Faculty of Mass Media, Cairo University
Dr. ShibleyTelhami, Saban Center and University of Maryland
This session will delve into the internal dynamics shaping Egypt-U.S. relationship. Papers will address how public perceptions and culture influence policy makers in the two countries and look for potential areas for co-operation.
12:00 – 12:30 Coffee Break
12:30 – 2:30 Session Seven:
Regional Issues: The US, Egypt and the Region
Moderator: Ambassador Abdel Raouf El Reidy, Honorary Chairman, Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs
Dr. Yasmin Farouk, Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University
Ambassador Ron Schlicher, former U.S. Ambassador to Cyprus and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs (NEA). He served twice in Egypt during his foreign-service career.
This session will identify the impact of regional issues on Egypt-U.S relations and the role of Egypt as a regional actor. The session will also address how American interactions with other regional actors affect US-Egyptian relations
2:30 – 4:30 Lunch
4:30 – 5:30 Closure
Moderator: Jon Alterman, CSIS
Conclusions:
Final remarks and future steps: Dr. Ibrahim Awad
Dr. Tamara Wittes
Dr. Magda Shahin
Dr. Mustapha Al Sayed
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