US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT2654

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 002654 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO, OEXC, SCUL, OIIP, KIRC, XF, KU, Public Diplomacy 
SUBJECT: AMERICAN CORNER SPRING SEMESTER WRAP-UP 
 
 
1.  Summary:  Post programming at the two American Corners 
in Kuwait was wrapped-up with the completion of the spring 
2005 academic semester.  Emboffs, Fulbright scholars and 
visitors were programmed at both of the American Corners in 
Kuwait.  Programming involved informal lectures, 
presentations and discussions on American culture, history 
or policy.  The only Kuwaiti university without an American 
Corner has approached the Embassy, unsolicited, for its 
own.  Summer and fall programming is being planned.  End 
Summary. 
 
American Corner at Kuwait University 
------------------------------------ 
 
2.  The American Corner at Kuwait University opened on 
January 10, 2005 in the building of the College of Social 
Sciences and is known at Kuwait University as the American 
Studies Unit. 
 
3.  The following talks were held at the American Studies 
Unit at Kuwait University (Date, topic and speaker): 
 
March 27, 2005 - "Iraqi Elections, the View from Basra" - 
Mark Stroh, Embassy Information Officer 
 
April 2, 2005 - "Info USA: Internet Information Resources" 
- May Katkhuda, IRC director 
 
April 24, 2005 - "American Folk Music" - Dr. Lisa Urkevich, 
U.S. Fulbright Scholar 
 
May 1, 2005 - "Countering Misinformation" - Todd Leventhal, 
Chief of the IIP Counter-Misinformation office 
 
May 8, 2005 - "American Music: The Blues" - Sam Werberg, 
Embassy Economic Officer 
 
American Corner at AUK 
---------------------- 
 
4.  The American Corner at the American University of 
Kuwait (AUK) opened on May 9, 2005 in the AUK campus 
library.  The American Corner overlooks the Gulf from its 
second floor glass-enclosed location within the library. 
 
5.  The following talks were held at the American Corner at 
AUK (date, topic and speaker): 
 
May 15, 2005 - "The U.S.-Kuwait Business Relationship" - 
Peter Alois, Embassy Counselor for Commercial Affairs (FCS) 
 
May 21, 2005 - "Envisioning Iraq's Future: Developing an 
Alternative View" - Dr. Phebe Marr, Senior Fellow at the 
United States Institute of Peace 
 
Future Topics 
------------- 
 
6.  PAS Kuwait has tentatively lined up Emboffs or others 
to speak during this summer and fall semesters on topics 
including the following, and will certainly add speakers 
and other unique programming at our American Corners:  "The 
American Political System," "American Sports:  Baseball, 
America's Pastime," "American Sports:  Football in the 
South," "Arab-Americans," "Islam in America," and "Study in 
the U.S.A." 
 
7.  One key element of American Corner programming in 
Kuwait is to include media coverage of the events when 
appropriate.  During this past semester, five of the seven 
events received significant press coverage from all eight 
of Kuwait's daily newspapers-five Arabic, three English.  A 
local journalist who recently interviewed Post's 
Information Officer also asked several questions on the 
American Corners, demonstrating media interest in the 
corners. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
8.  The American Corners in Kuwait are a great tool with 
which we have increased contact between the Embassy and the 
youth and student audience in Kuwait.  American Corners 
allow Emboffs the opportunity to engage in public speaking 
and offer Kuwaiti students the unique opportunity to speak 
with Americans on diverse topics ranging from American 
culture to business to politics.  The Corners allow the 
Embassy as a whole to work with PAS in increasing Kuwaiti 
understanding of American society and values and provides a 
venue where PAS can get Post's message out on key MPP goals 
(five of the seven events received significant media 
coverage).  PAS Kuwait is exploring the possibility of 
establishing an American Corner at the Gulf University for 
Science and Technology (GUST), the lone university in 
Kuwait without an American Corner, which has approached the 
Embassy, unsolicited, to express its interest in hosting an 
American Corner.  We are also exploring the possibility of 
opening corners in one or more of the Kuwaiti public 
libraries located outside of the city center. 
 
LEBARON