Transcript
TAMARA COFMAN WITTES: Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. I'd like to welcome all of you to our policy forum, to our breakfast, and thank you for coming in early for a special occasion, which is the visit of Dr. Ismail Serageldin to Washington and to the Saban Center here at Brookings.
I'd like to acknowledge the Ambassador of Egypt and the Ambassador of Norway who have joined us this morning, thank you, and also thank you, Ambassador Fahmy, for your assistance in putting this event together.
Given the events of the past week or so, and the tremendous challenges that the United States is facing in achieving its goals in the region, I think there are many—perhaps many in this room—who are asking whether the Bush administration's ambitious plans to promote democracy in the Greater Middle East have become about as relevant as, say, a manned space mission to Mars.
But this morning's topic, and this morning's speaker, are good evidence to the contrary—good evidence I think for the continued relevancy of a policy discussion here in Washington, as there is in the region, about democratic reform in the Middle East. Because no matter what may be at the top of the policy agenda here or at the top of our TV screens, there's a great deal happening in the Middle East, and especially in the Arab world, on the question of reform. And one of the prime movers behind this renewed discussion and debate on Arab reform is with us this morning.
Dr. Ismail Serageldin is currently, formally, director of the Library of Alexandria, which is itself the culmination of a tremendously ambitious undertaking and a testament to his determination and commitment to recreate this ancient wonder.
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