Itinerary Of U.s. Tech Delegation To Iraq

Visit of the Technology/New Media Delegation April 19-23, 2009 Sunday, April 19 16:00

Arrival from Amman to BIAP (Baghdad International Airport) via milair

17:00

Helo from BIAP to LZ (Landing Zone) Washington

17:30

Check into Embassy housing

18:15

Welcome and program overview with Helen LaFave, Cultural Attaché, Jinnie Lee, Deputy Cultural Affairs Officer and Veronika Arky, Cultural Affairs Assistant

18:30

Briefing / Courtesy call with Susan Ziadeh, Embassy Spokesperson and Acting Counselor for Public Affairs

19:00

Security Briefing by RSO (Regional Security Office) – Protective Operations, Ken Davis and Tony Groh

20:00

Dinner at the residence of General Nasier Abadi, Vice Chief of Staff, Iraqi Armed Forces– briefing on security situation in Iraq

Monday, April 20 0745

Breakfast at the DFAC (Dining Facility)

0845

Briefing with MG (Major-General) David Perkins, Director for Strategic Effects, CJ9, Multi-National Force Iraq (MNF-I), on military strategic communications

0915

Briefing by MAJ Ralph Steen, MNF-I CJ6, Officer-in-Charge of the national fiber network installation project and LCDR Blake Eikenberry, MNF-I, IZFN Project Manager

0945

Briefing with Embassy senior staff (Ambassador Robert Ford, Counselor for Political Affairs; Michael Dodman, Counselor for Economic Affairs; Susan Ziadeh, Embassy Spokesperson and Acting Counselor for Public Affairs)

1115

Briefing with Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih via teleconference

1215

Lunch with Foreign Service Officers serving in Embassy Baghdad

1330

Visit Crossed Swords and Monument to the Unknown Soldier

1430

Briefing with the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council on education led by Dr. Saad Ibrahim, Education Advisor to PM Maliki

1630

Briefing led by Ambassador Marc Wall, Coordinator for Economic Transition in Iraq (CETI), with ECON (Economics Section), FCS (Foreign Commercial Service), ACCO (Anti-Corruption Coordinator’s Office), ITAO (Iraq Transition Assistance Office)

1745

Briefing by the Office of Hostage Affairs, Peter Ford

1800

Meeting with the National Investment Commission - Dr. Sami Al-Aaraji, Investment Commissioner and Salah Mohamed Ameen, Deputy Investment Commissioner

1930

Dinner meeting with Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Raad Fahmi and Dr. Samir Salem Attar, Senior Deputy Minister

Tuesday, April 21 0730

Breakfast at the DFAC

0900

Tour of Iraq National Museum and meeting with the Faeza Al Ubadi, Chief Engineer

1100

Symposium with private sector and government telecom and technology representatives hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST)

1330

Lunch briefing and tour of Zain

1645

Roundtable discussion with Iraqi youth at Al Rasheed Hotel

1830

Reception at DCR hosted by Chargé d’Affaires, Ambassador Patricia Butenis

Wednesday, April 22 0730

Breakfast at the DFAC

0900

Visit to University of Baghdad - meeting led by Dr. Mousa Al Mosawa, President, University of Baghdad and moderated by Dr. Suha M. Hadi, Professor, Al Khawarizmi Engineering College, University of Baghdad

1100

Meeting with President Talabani at Dar-as-Salam Palace

1215

Visit to University of Technology, meeting led by Dr. Qahtan Khalaf AlKhazrajy, President and session with students

1445

Arab Media Roundtable with print and online journalists for executives from Meetup, Blue State Digital, YouTube and AT&T

1545

CNN Interview with CEO of Twitter

1600

TV Interview with Arab media executive from Howcast

1630

Roundtable with Western press – all members of delegation

1900

Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Barham Salih

2215

DVC with State Department Press in Washington, D.C.

Thursday, April 23 0500

PSD (Protective Security Detail) to BIAP

0900

MilAir from BIAP to Amman