ATFP and other Arab American Organizations Meet with Secretary Condi Rice

ATFP president Ziad Asali was a member of an eight person delegation of Arab American leaders who met today with Secretary Rice for one hour and fifteen minutes today.

Other delegation leaders included representatives of the AAI, ADC, American Task Force on Lebanon and American Chaldean Council, ACCESS, Ramallah Federation and Al-Bireh Society.

Several issues were raised with the Secretary concerning Palestine: Israeli discriminatory practices against Palestinian Americans in matters of Visas and border crossings, the hardships that check points and the Wall impose on Palestinian people, and the policy of humiliation and its manifestations. Larger policy issues of negotiating peace, the need for a political horizon, economic hardship and the need to bring about a palpable improvement in the lives of Palestinians were discussed.

On Lebanon, the question of asking Israel to cooperate on providing information on cluster bombs in Lebanon was raised and the Secretary was handed a document about the issue signed by over 30 Arab-American organizations. Some delegates expressed their gratitude for the financial and political support that the United States has extended to the Lebanese government and people in the recent crisis. A policy of working out peaceful resolutions that accommodate Lebanon's political realities was also expressed.

The issue of visa travels from Iraq to the United States and supporting minorities as well as Arab American appointments in the Federal government especially at the State Department were also discussed.

The Secretary addressed the issues raised and discussed the Administration's policies regarding various regional issues.