WASHINGTON, D.C. Sept. 14, 2005 -- The National Council on US Arab Relations (NCUSAR) will be focusing its attention on Saudi Arabian-United States relations, and the future of the Gulf Cooperation Council at its 2-days of meetings scheduled for October 30-31, 2006 in Washington D.C.

The NCUSAR has chosen the theme "Taking Stock of the Saudi Arabian U.S. Relations: Examining the Policy Implications" for its annual conference here on Monday Oct. 30. This will be followed on Tuesday Oct. 31 by a �Forum on the Future of the Gulf Cooperation Council� to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the GCC. The second-day forum will be by invitation only.

The prestigious Ronald Reagan International Trade Center will be home to the two events, according to Dr. John Duke Anthony, President and CEO of the NCUSAR and chairman of the conference. Saudi Arabian Ambassador, His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al-Faisal, will be the featured keynote speaker along with about 20 other prominent American and Saudi Arabian personalities on the first day, including former U.S. ambassadors to Riyadh. 

The second day will feature a panel of invited GCC and U.S. officials and ambassadors from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Panels will focus on the political, strategic, economic, energy, and cultural relations between the United States and the GCC countries. The meetings will be the 15th Annual U.S. Arab Policymakers Conference of the NCUSAR.

A reception will be hosted by Ambassador Turki for all participants at the Saudi Arabian Embassy. A delegation of Saudi Arabian business men and women has been invited to attend the conference, along with a number of business executives and public officials from both countries. 

Registration and sponsorship details are available on the NCUSAR website at www.ncusar.org according to the National Council�s Vice President Pat Mancino. Early registration is $200 for the Oct. 30 panels, luncheon and reception. A special $100 discounted fee is available for government civilian and military employees, retirees, professors and students. Members of the media may attend for free. 

The National Council is a non-profit institution which has organized educational and cultural events over the past 23 years, said Hassan Al-Husseini, the conference coordinator. These include an annual Model Arab League for high school and university students in cities throughout the United States, a visitors program for American professors and others to various Arab countries, internship programs in both Washington D.C. and the Arab world, study abroad opportunities, and various other outreach programs.

Source: NCUSAR Press Release