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2006 Programs & Events
Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Karen P. Hughes Visits France
October 3-5, 2006
Under Secretary Hughes addressed the Deauville International Women's Forum, an annual gathering of women leaders in business and government from around the world. She spoke on the topic of "Women as Agents of Change," and participated in a panel discussion at the Forum. While in France, Under Secretary Hughes met with French Government officials and parliamentarians. Following up on the First Lady's announcement of the Global Cultural Initiative, she visited the Louvre Museum and the Institute of the Arab World, where she toured a newly-opened exhibit on Venice and the Orient, which is being co-curated by the New York Metropolitan Museum. She also visited the American Hospital of Paris, which is commemorating its Centennial this fall.
On October 3, Under Secretary Hughes visited the American Hospital of Paris where she was born in 1956. After a tour of the emergency department, the imaging unit and the maternity unit, she had a discussion with John Crawford, Vice-Chairman of the Board of Governors, David McGovern and Mrs Christiane Guerlain of the Board of Governors, André Guinet, Chief Executive Officer and six US physicians practising at the American Hospital of Paris about the hospital's Centennial in 2006 and Franco-American cooperation. This American Hospital of Paris was founded in 1906 to provide care to Americans in Paris who could not afford it or who did not speak French well enough to be treated at a French hospital. Over the past hundred years, it has greatly expanded from its original 20 beds. It has played an important role in caring for the wounded in times of war, always working to strengthen Franco-American relations. Today, AHP has over 450 physicians and surgeons (only 6 of whom are American), 750 employees, and 200 beds.
Visit at the Institute of the Arab World
Undersecretary Hughes’ visit to IMA underlined the US interest and appreciation of this institution and Arab culture. During her visit, Under Secretary Hughes had the opportunity to learn about the IMA’s role as a ‘cultural bridge’ between France and the Arab world and to underscore the importance of cultural exchanges such as the “Venice and the Orient” exhibit organized in cooperation with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, in strengthening relationships between nations. She was welcome by IMA President Yves Guéna and IMA Director General Moktar Taleb-Bendiab, was given a guided tour of the exhibition “Venice and the Orient” and participated to a roundtable with journalists.