U.S., Indonesian Delegation of 25 Christian, Jewish and Muslim Religious Leaders to Meet with Senior Lawmakers, Administration Officials
Media Advisory February 23, 2012
Contact: Natasha Altamirano, naltamirano@qga.com or 202-429-6882
Washington, DC – Twenty-four Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith leaders will meet with Members of Congress on February 29, culminating a 12-day international journey across six cities exploring the role of religion in advancing peace and understanding in the world. The interfaith delegation will call on U.S. officials to support policies that utilize religion as a tool for diplomacy and a catalyst for unity over divisiveness.
Twelve religious leaders from the United States and 12 from Indonesia will travel to Washington, DC after meetings in Jakarta, Amman, Jerusalem, Ramallah and Tel Aviv with senior government officials, NGOs and other leaders from the three Abrahamic faith traditions. Reps. Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Dan Burton (R-IN), co-chairs of the Indonesia Caucus, along with Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) will host the gathering on Capitol Hill, during which participants will share their experiences from the “Interfaith Mission for Peace and Understanding.”
Earlier in the day, the delegation is scheduled to meet with senior officials from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; Office of International Religious Freedom; and Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, as well as the White House National Security Council.
WHO: Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), co-chair, Indonesia Caucus
Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN), co-chair, Indonesia Caucus
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) (invited)
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN)
Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT)
Dr. Dino Patti Djalal, Ambassador to the United States from the Republic of Indonesia
Dr. Nasaruddin Umar, Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Republic of Indonesia
Christian minister from U.S. delegation (TBC)
Imam from U.S. delegation (TBC)
Rabbi Sid Schwarz, Mission Director, Interfaith Mission for Peace and Understanding
WHAT: Press conference on Interfaith Mission for Peace and Understanding
WHEN: Wednesday, February 29, 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: U.S. Capitol, Room TBC
For a full list of participants and bios or more information on the Interfaith Mission for Peace and Understanding, please visit www.missionforpeace.org. Press contact: Natasha Altamirano, naltamirano@qga.com or 202-429-6882.
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This material is circulated by QGA Public Affairs on behalf of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, for which QGA is registered as a foreign agent with the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., where a registration statement and additional materials are available for public inspection.
