E-Arabica Newsletter

• NCCAR issued a News Release following the May 20 Doha Agreement and the election on May 25 of army Gen. Michel Suleiman as president of Lebanon. NCCAR congratulates Lebanon on this major step towards the restoration of Lebanon 's unity and stability, that will hopefully usher in an era of reconciliation to the benefit of all the Lebanese people. It calls on Canada to support Lebanon and provide the assistance that is needed to promote national cohesion and to facilitate the ongoing internal dialogue.
  
  
• NCCAR attended a Middle East Discussion Group discussion on Jerusalem , Old City Initiation.  The guest speaker was Michael Bell, former Ambassador to Jordan, Egypt , the Palestinian Authority and Israel , and former chairman of the Donor Committee for International Reconstruction Fund Facility for Iraq . Michael Bell acted as executive assistant to Robert Stanfield in his fact finding mission to the Middle East in 1980. He currently teaches at the University of Windsor. 
  
  
• NCCAR participated in a colloquium on May 21st organized on Parliament Hill by the Circle of Canadians on "Strengthening Canadian Identity in a Safe and Secure Canada."  The keynote speaker was Jason Kenney, Secretary of State for Multiculturalism and Canadian Identity.
  
  
• NCCAR President, Bahija Réghaï, sent a letter on March 23rd to His Excellency Naser Mohamed Yusuf Albalooshi, Bahrain Ambassador, congratulating the Kingdom of Bahrain on winning a seat at the United Nations Human Rights Council.  Réghaï also went on to say that along with the Arab states already on the Council, she hopes Bahrain will play a constructive role in strengthening the council and ensuring the independence of the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights.

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