Ambassador Frank C. Urbancic led a roundtable discussion on July 7, 2009 for graduate international-relations students at the University of Nicosia

U.S. President Barack Obama delivered a historic speech on American foreign policy entitled “A New Beginning” on June 4, 2009. The President called for a new beginning between the U.S. and Muslims around the world, based upon mutual interest and mutual respect, including a sustained effort to listen to each other, learn from each other and respect one another.

Spreading President Obama’s message locally, U.S. Ambassador Frank C. Urbancic led a roundtable discussion on July 7, 2009 for graduate international-relations students at the University of Nicosia. The event was hosted by the university’s Dialogue Chair in Middle Eastern Studies, Professor Farid Mirbagheri. The participants in the discussion included a mix of local and international students, including students from Serbia, Belarus, Tajikistan, Slovakia, Palestine, Germany, and Croatia.

In addition to the messages from President Obama’s speech in Cairo, the students also raised points from President Obama’s July 7, 2009 speech in Moscow. With their thought-provoking questions, the students asked the Ambassador about some of the most difficult foreign-policy issues of today, including nuclear non-proliferation, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the global financial crisis, and Europe’s role in combating violent extremism. The Ambassador also spoke about the differences in U.S. foreign policy under the current and previous Presidential administrations, U.S. strategy to combat violent extremism in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the challenges facing the U.S. as it prepares to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay.

Through his “New Beginning” dialogue series, Ambassador Urbancic is listening to local voices and explaining U.S. foreign policy initiatives under President Obama. The event at the University of Nicosia was a valuable opportunity for the Ambassador to hear the views of young international-relations scholars studying at one of Cyprus’ leading universities.