CONSUL GENERAL

"Sixth Anniversary of September 11, 2001"
Consul General Eric Nelson

Munich, September 11, 2007
As prepared for delivery

Meine Damen und Herren, Dear Friends,

September 11, 2001 is a date etched in our memory. 
We all remember where we were and what we were doing at the hour we heard the news of the first terrorist attacks on New York. 

The arrests last week of three terror suspects here in Germany remind us that the threat from extremists is still with us.  As we learn the details of the successful investigation by Germany’s security forces, we learn again the importance of cooperation among the allies in the fight against terrorism. 

As I introduce our speaker this evening, I’d like you to think about  another reason why September 11 is an historic day. 

It was September 11, 1956, when President Eisenhower launched the sister city movement. 

On that September 11, fifty one years ago, President Eisenhower opened the People-to-People Conference saying:
“If we are going to take advantage of the assumption that all people want peace, then the problem is for people to get together and to leap governments – if necessary to evade governments - to work out not one method but thousands of methods by which people can gradually learn a little bit more of each other.
The problems are: How do we dispel ignorance? 
How do we present our own case? 
How do we strengthen friendships?
How do we learn of others?”  End quote. 

This commitment to engage with the world is as important today as ever. 
The USA did not retreat behind its borders after the planes crashed into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and a field in Pennsylvania. 
Rather, we are working to keep our doors open and our borders secure. 
And we are increasing our engagement with the world on many fronts, in the mountains of Afghanistan, the villages of Iraq, the mosques in America and throughout the world.
Through engagement and dialogue,
we are working to increase mutual understanding and respect,
fight prejudice
and eliminate the ignorance that feeds extremist ideology. 

“Engaging with the World After 9/11” is our topic this September 11.
Our guest speaker tonight is the ideal person to discuss this subject.

Farah Pandith is Senior Advisor in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the Department of State.  As Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, she is focused on Muslim communities in Europe and is responsible for policy oversight for integration, democracy and Islam.  She also works on issues relating to countering violent Islamic extremism. 

Farah mentioned to me earlier that since assuming her position in February of this year, this is already her fourth visit to Germany.  This shows Germany is one of our most important partners in continuing to engage the world. 

Prior to joining the Department of State, Ms. Pandith served at the National Security Council as Director for Middle East Regional Initiatives, where she coordinated U.S. policy on Muslim World Outreach and the Broader Middle East North Africa initiative. 

Prior to joining the National Security Council staff in December 2004, Ms Pandith worked at the U.S. Agency for International Development and as a consultant and manager in the private and non-profit sectors. 

Ms. Pandith was born in Kashmir, India and grew up in Boston, Massachusetts.

Farah, welcome to Amerika Haus Munich.