US Embassy Honours QMA Exchange Participants

Doha, March 29 (QNA) The US embassy in Qatar has organized an event at the Museum of Islamic Art to honour recent participants in Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) "Museum Ambassadors" program and to celebrate Qatar-U.S. cooperation in the arts. US Ambassador to the State of Qatar Susan L. Ziadeh opened the reception earlier on Wednesday evening, welcoming Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy Kathleen Stephens, the regional Public Affairs Officers, Qatar Museums Authority Officials, as well as the "Museum Ambassadors". In her welcoming speech at the reception, Stephens said, "I am proud of US -Qatar cooperation in the arts and enjoyed hearing from our "Museum Ambassadors" about their program in the United States." "This unique group gathered here tonight at the Museum of Islamic Art only confirms that art is a powerful bridge between our cultures." She added Addressing the attendees at the same speech, Ambassador Ziadeh hailed the depth of the US-Qatari relations, lauding the level of the Qatari participants at the International Exchange Program. Ziadeh said "It s arts that brings people together, it s cultural expression that unite people, culture and traditions" "I ve always believed that art and art diplomacy is an effective way for people to from different countries so I think it s good to be here tonight in this special setting to discuss our cooperation in art and culture" she added. Many of the Qatari participants who just returned from the US are currently employees at the Museum of the Islamic Art. Under Secretary Stephens was in town to preside over a workshop on American public diplomacy efforts in the Middle East and Northern Africa region. While in Doha, Acting Under Secretary Stephens also discussed US-Qatar partnerships in education and media with a number of high-ranking officials at local institutions including Qatar University, Qatar Foundation, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar, and Al Jazeera Network. Her visit culminated with two animated Q&A discussions with students from Qatar University and Education City on the subject of "U.S. Public Diplomacy Engagement with the Muslim World." (QNA)