Conference Highlights New Moment, Continuing Challenges

On June 26, 2009, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Center for International Private Enterprise, and the U.S.-Muslim Engagement Project hosted a conference on Business Opportunities in the Muslim World. Keynote speakers included Dan Christman, Jay Collins, Anwar bin Ibrahim, and Vin Weber. Close to 200 people registered for the conference, coming from the public and private sectors, the U.S. and Muslim countries abroad.  The conference took place at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Hall of Flags, Washington, DC.  More information about the conference, including the conference program, speakers and goals, is available here. View the conference webcast here.

Talks about the Leadership Group's Recommendations and the Obama Administration

In an interview on MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' on April 7, 2009, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, member of the Leadership Group on U.S.-Muslim Engagement, reflected on initiatives by President Obama to reach out to the Muslim world: "... it really sounds as though President Obama is exactly on track [with the Leadership Group's recommendations] because we hoped that the next President would mention something about respect for Islam in the inaugural address, and certainly President Obama did that, and would also... explain the importance of U.S.-Muslim relations, not that we are at war with Islam, and President Obama made that very clear in a speech yesterday in Turkey..." Watch the entire interview below:

Diplomatic Exchange of Views with Representatives from OIC Nations

On April 6, 2009, a distinguished panel led by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright briefed ambassadors from member states of the Organisation of The Islamic Conference (OIC) on the U.S.-Muslim Engagement Project in Washington, D.C. The event, which was hosted by Ambassador Aziz Mekouar of Morocco and co-sponsored by Search for Common Ground and the Consensus Building Institute, exemplified the constructive dialogue called for in the project report "Changing Course: A New Direction for U.S. Relations with the Muslim World". Ambassador Mekouar called the report "a most constructive blueprint for building relationships of cooperation" between the United States and the larger Muslim world.

From left to right: Robert Fersh, David Fairman, Maria Felice Mekouar, Madeleine Albright, Ambassador Aziz Mekouar, Sayyid Syeed, Vin Weber, Paula Gutlove (Click on picture for large version)

Highlights the Group's Comprehensive and "Very Action-Oriented" Recommendations for Improving U.S.-Muslim Relations

Before testifying at a hearing on "Engaging with Muslim Communities around the World" before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on February 26, 2009, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, member of the Leadership Group on U.S.-Muslim Engagement, shared her thoughts on strengthening U.S.-Muslim relations on NPR. In her interview, she highlighted the Leadership Group report as a "very action-oriented agenda that would allow us to have a plan for talking to Muslims" around the world. Click here to listen to the full interview.