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DEL.ICIO.USAmeri: Citizen diplomacy key for global understanding
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Georgia Council for International Visitors is hosting a three-day Southern Regional meeting to promote the global exchange of citizens.
The meetings — most being held at the Westin Peachtree Plaza — was launched today by two dignitaries: Sherry Mueller, president of the National Council for International Visitors, and Goli Ameri, assistant U.S. secretary of state for educational and cultural affairs.
“Our success in public diplomacy is building mutual understanding between people in the United States and people around the world,” Ameri said. “It couldn’t be more simple or more vital after 9/11.”
Ameri said that in the past year, more than 4,300 visitors from “virtually every country in the world” participated in the international visitor program. She also said that about a quarter of all international heads of states participated in the international visitor exchange program.
“Exchanges are the most important public diplomacy effort that we do,” Ameri said. “I can’t help but wish we could do more.”
Mueller said the federal dollars that help sponsor the international visitor program are always in danger of being cut.
“The money for these exchanges is paid for with discretionary funds,” Mueller said, adding that it’s important people advocate for continued funding for these programs with their congressional representatives. “Our members are very appreciative of the federal grants. We received $2.8 million this past year, and we raised $16.5 million in local funds.”
Former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, who served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in the Jimmy Carter administration, is today’s luncheon speaker for the Southern Regional Meeting for International Visitors.
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