U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas says :You should talk to Silas Kenala about the over seventy Peace Corps Volunteers that he has teaching English all across Bangladesh and about the new volunteers that will be arriving this Fall. This is all transformational diplomacy, and although I may be going back to Washington my colleagues here are going to be continuing this good work.



U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas says :You should talk to Silas Kenala about the over seventy Peace Corps Volunteers that he has teaching English all across Bangladesh and about the new volunteers that will be arriving this Fall. This is all transformational diplomacy, and although I may be going back to Washington my colleagues here are going to be continuing this good work.

Make sure the next national elections are free and fair

By Ambassador Harry K. Thomas
The New Nation
Bangladesh
Jun 16, 2005

[Text of U.S. Ambassador Harry K. Thomas's statement at his meeting with the Diplomatic Correspondents' Association in Dhaka on June 14,2005.]

I'm glad to be here at the press club. Since you are all members of the Diplomatic Correspondents' Association, I thought that today I might talk a little about the nature of diplomacy - the role that we diplomats play - and how that is changing.

Secretary Rice has said that "We are in a period of transformational diplomacy, a period in which we literally are using our diplomacy to transform not to hold to the status quo, but to transform … diplomacy doesn't just mean sending messages and sending demarches and reporting on what is going on out in the field, but it literally means being active partners with people in helping them to transform."

Notice that she said we want to be partners and to help people to transform. This isn't something that we're talking about doing to the people or governments of other countries, but rather something that we want to do with the people and governments of other countries.

President Bush has clearly stated that one of the most important transformations in the world today is the spread of democracy freedom. I think you all would agree that when large numbers of people voted in Iraq and Afghanistan that was a good thing, but it's not just those two countries. People around the world want more freedom and more control over their lives: look at the movements in countries like Georgia, Ukraine, and Lebanon.

Sometimes people suggest that the United States only supports democracy when people that support us are elected. Nothing could be further from the truth. Let's take an example from right here in Bangladesh. Recently there was an election in Chittagong. The Mayor down there is a gentleman who has been known to criticize the United States. I have no idea where he comes up with some of the things that he says, but he doesn't represent me. He represents the people of Chittagong. Everything that I've heard suggests that the elections there were free and fair - so that's a good thing, and we want to do everything that we can to work with Bangladeshis to make sure that the next national elections are also free and fair.

I won't be here for the next elections, but I want to remind you that my Embassy colleagues - both American and Bangladeshi will remain. I've worked with Judy Chammas for the last two years and she is going to be an outstanding charge d'affaires until the next Ambassador is appointed, and I'm sure that she'll be happy to meet with you at future events like this one, but remember the Embassy is more than one person.

You should also talk to Gene George about USAID's many projects to support development here in Bangladesh: whether it's supporting health clinics, or helping launch Sisimpur - that's transformational diplomacy. You should talk to our economic officers David Renz and Dayle Johns about the road show that we are planning this fall to help Bangladeshi businesses sell their products in the United States - because trade not aid is the engine that drives development.

You should talk to Jon Cebra here about our public diplomacy - modern diplomacy isn't only about meeting with government officials, it's also about our efforts to reach out to students, and teachers, and people across all of Bangladesh. That's why we had "America Week" in Khulna this year.

You should talk to Silas Kenala about the over seventy Peace Corps Volunteers that he has teaching English all across Bangladesh and about the new volunteers that will be arriving this Fall. This is all transformational diplomacy, and although I may be going back to Washington my colleagues here are going to be continuing this good work.

When this story was posted in June 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:



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American Taboo: A Peace Corps Tragedy Returned Volunteers met with author Philip Weiss in Baltimore on June 18 to discuss the murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner. Weiss was a member of a panel that included three psychiatrists and a criminal attorney. Meanwhile, the Seattle U.S. Attorney's office announced that Dennis Priven cannot be retried for the murder. "We do not believe this case can be prosecuted by anyone, not only us, but in any other jurisdiction in the United States." Read background on the case here.

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June 16, 2005: Special Events Philip Weiss, PCV murder writer, speaks in Baltimore June 18 "Rainforests and Refugees" showing in Portland, Maine until June 25 "Iowa in Ghana" on exhibit in Waterloo through June 30 NPCA to hold Virtual Leaders Forum on July 29 RPCV's "Taking the Early Bus" at Cal State until Aug 15 "Artists and Patrons in Traditional African Cultures" in NY thru Sept 30 RPCVs: Post your stories or press releases here for inclusion next week.

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June 14: Peace Corps suspends Haiti program After Uzbekistan, the Peace Corps has announced the suspension of a second program this month - this time in Haiti. Background: The suspension comes after a US Embassy warning, a request from Tom Lantos' office, and the program suspension last year. For the record: PCOL supports Peace Corps' decision to suspend the two programs and commends the agency for the efficient way PCVs were evacuated safely. Our only concern now is with the placement of evacuated PCVs and the support they receive after interrupted service.

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June 6: PC suspends Uzbekistan program Peace Corps has announced that it is suspending the Uzbekistan program after the visas of 52 Peace Corps volunteers who arrived in January were not renewed. The suspension comes after a State Department warning that terrorist groups may be planning attacks in Uzbekistan and after the killings in Andizhan earlier in May. Background: PCOL published a report on April 23 that Peace Corps volunteers who arrived in January were having visa difficulties and reported on safety and visa issues in Uzbekistan as they developed.

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June 6, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Kinky Friedman will "sign anything except bad legislation" 6 Jun Niels Marquardt Makes Chimpanzee Protection a Priority 6 Jun Laurence Leamer needs approval for "Today" appearance 6 Jun Desperate Housewives' Ricardo Chavira is son of RPCVs 6 Jun Anthony Sandberg runs Berkeley sailing school 5 Jun Amy Smith field-tests sugarcane charcoal 5 Jun Mary Johnson organizes workshop on genocide 3 Jun Jonathan Lash in 100 most Influential Business Leaders 3 Jun Hastert jump-starts Chris Shays' Campaign 3 Jun John Coyne says 41 RPCVs applied for scholarships 3 Jun James Rupert writes on bombing in Kandahar mosque 1 Jun John McCain says to expand opportunities for service 1 Jun Jay Rockefeller's relationships with Japanese go way back 1 Jun Anat Shenker met her husband during service in Honduras 31 May Ryan Clancy punished without hearing for visiting Iraq 30 May Melissa Mosvick remembered as a fallen American hero 29 May Kurt Carlson played basketball against Togo's national team 29 May Helen Thomas's favorite president remains JFK 24 May

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