For Immediate Release

Community collaborates to welcome ambassador hossam zaki to sacramento

Sacramento, CA - October 15th 2009

Delegata is proud to host Egyptian Ambassador Hossam Zaki in Sacramento on Friday, October 16, 2009 in partnership with several esteemed organizations including California International Relations Foundation, California State Senate, University of California, Davis, University of the Pacific/McGeorge School of Law and the World Affairs Council

The Building Bridges initiative was founded by Delegata’s CEO and President, Kais Menoufy, to re-establish relationships between the East and the West that have rapidly deteriorated in recent years.  Building Bridges provides a platform for culture exchange, enhanced communications and progressive collaboration between the US and Middle East in an effort to expand the space for peace. 

On Friday, October 16th, the Honorable Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Senior Political Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt will be participating in conversations with Senator Darrell Steinberg, Senate President pro Tem, as well as Dean Elizabeth Parker of McGeorge School of Law. Topics will include:

• U.S. and Egypt relationships
• Peace progress
• Strategy in the Middle East
• Business opportunities

The California Senate, the California International Relations Foundation and Delegata will be hosting Ambassador Zaki at the Leland Stanford Mansion and will be attended by several leaders in the community. Following the luncheon is an exclusive roundtable discussion with Ambassador Zaki and esteemed delegation hosted by UC Davis, University of the Pacific/McGeorge School of Law and Delegata. The World Affairs Council and Delegata will be hosting an Afternoon Session for the community in the Delegata Diamond Conference Center at 3:00 pm.

Friday’s Afternoon Session is the community’s opportunity to engage in a dialogue with Ambassador Zaki and to celebrate the collaborations for peace developed during the Building Bridges activities. The program includes the Ambassador’s perspective on the U.S. and Egypt relations and the peace process in the Middle East. Delegata President and CEO, Kais Menoufy, adds “California is taking a leadership role in collaborative dialogues toward the peace process in the Middle East and the world at large. It is imperative to find areas of strength in other regions and see what we can learn from each other. That’s how we’ll find peace- through working together.”

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About Building Bridges

Building Bridges was founded to re-establish the great relationships between the East and the West that have rapidly deteriorated in recent years. We are utilizing the existing infrastructures between American and International organizations, establishing new relationships between the United States and other countries, as well as creating opportunities locally for people living in the same region to celebrate each others culture.

Delegata sponsors multiple local events and groups whose goals and mission align with Building Bridges. Delegata is involved with the Sacramento World Music and Dance Festival whose mission is to showcase the cultural diversity of the Sacramento Region through the presentation of an ethnic dance and music festival; Songs of Hope which brings together musicians from Israel, Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, and the U.S. and is based on the premise that music can build bridges and create understanding between people in conflict; and Call for Unity, a concert event that brings diverse cultures and backgrounds together in one night of music for all to enjoy.