NEPA on display to world diplomats

Nov 23, 2008 (The Times-Tribune - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- HLT | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Scranton will be on the world's stage today.

Through Tuesday, parliamentarians and diplomats representing 30 percent of the world's population will be discussing issues such as terrorism and AIDS at Marywood University.

For almost all of the more than 100 officials from 20 countries, it will be their first time in the region.

"Short term, it means an opportunity to introduce Northeast Pennsylvania to the world. Even if it's five countries that come, it's five more countries that know Northeast Pennsylvania, know it for its people, know it for its businesses and know it for its values," said Joseph K. Grieboski, a Scott Twp. native and president of the Washington, D.C.-based Institute on Religion and Public Policy.

The annual forum of the institute's Interparliamentary Conference on Human Rights and Religious Freedom starts today. Local officials say they're excited to showcase the region's attractions, from a stop at the Lackawanna County Coal Mine tour, to staying downtown at the Hilton Scranton and Conference Center, to a reception at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

"To have a conference of this stature in Scranton just establishes us as a prominent small city in America," Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty said. "By holding an event like this, and doing it successfully, it says, 'Why yes, we can host you in Scranton' ... It's a great thing."

The Lackawanna County commissioners will host a welcome breakfast today.

"It's an opportunity for us to showcase our county to the world, and we're thrilled to have the chance to encourage the international community to bring business and invest in Lackawanna County," Commissioner Corey O'Brien said. "This is our opportunity on Sunday to sell Lackawanna County."

One of the goals of the conference is to find common ground on human rights and religious freedom issues, with the ultimate goal that countries will enact parallel legislation worldwide.

A draft concluding document -- available in seven languages on the institute's Web site -- includes statements on issues such as "religion-based terrorism," sovereignty and the environment.

The leaders, from countries as large as China and as small as Samoa and Moldova, will discuss and debate the statements in the document.

And what is debated in Scranton may have an impact worldwide.

The concluding document from the 2006 conference led to 12 countries establishing human rights and religious freedom caucuses or committees in their parliaments, Mr. Grieboski said.

The conference will include four sessions, each with panels of experts.

Abdullah Abdullah, deputy foreign minister of the Palestinian National Authority, and Azeb Mesfin, first lady of Ethiopia and a member of Ethiopian Parliament, will offer opening remarks today.

On Monday night, local business leaders will join the dignitaries for a business and trade roundtable.

"We think it's a great opportunity to continue our efforts to showcase Northeast Pennsylvania companies," said Jeffrey Box, president and CEO of the NEPA Alliance, a regional economic group. "There certainly could be some commercial ties developed between the representatives who are going to be there and companies that will be there."

This morning, Scranton will enter into a sister-city relationship between Scranton and Mekele, Ethiopia, a city of 169,000. Mr. Doherty said he first met officials from Ethiopia during the institute's diplomatic dinner at the Scranton Cultural Center in July.

"They felt very at home in the city," Mr. Doherty said.

Conference security will be provided by the Scranton and Dunmore police departments, as well as Marywood campus police.

The conference may be a prelude to a permanent move of the institute's Nobel Peace Prize-nominated Interparliamentary Conference to Scranton. Though the institute's headquarters would remain in Washington, the center would bring world leaders to the city for training and conferences and give the region continued international exposure.

"If we're looking to actually establish this in Northeast Pennsylvania, 20 countries the first year in Scranton isn't bad," Mr. Grieboski said.

Previous conferences, held in cities such as Rome and Brussels, attracted representatives from 60 to 65 countries. Though the faltering global economy played a role in some countries not sending delegates, some may not have wanted to come to Scranton, Mr. Grieboski said.

"Despite my sentiment that it's the 'metaphysical center of the universe,' a lot of people don't agree with me ... it's not a national capital," he said, adding that Scranton must market itself.

Relationships could be started this week that lead to cultural and educational exchanges and business opportunities, Mr. Grieboski said.

"We need the people. Let's use this, lets's take this, let's follow up," he added. "It's the beginning of relationships that will develop into something for the future."

Speakers include:

--Michael G. Kozak, senior director for democracy, human rights and international organizations, National Security Council. Mr. Kozak has worked for the Department of State for more than 35 years.

--Azeb Mesfin, first lady of Ethiopia.

--Rev. Monsignor Anthony Frontiero, official of the Roman Curia, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

--Lawrence Anthony, founder of the Earth Organization, known for his rescue of the Baghdad Zoo at the start of the Iraq war.

--Rabbi Steve Gutow, executive director of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

--Jean McInnis, environmental protection administrator, the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut.

--Barbara Slavin, assistant managing editor for world and national security, The Washington Times.

--Flemming Rose, culture editor of Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten. Mr. Rose commissioned the cartoons of the prophet Mohammed that caused violence across the Muslim world in 2006.

--Izzat Majeed, CEO of Alyph Ltd., a London-based investment company. He is known for his insights on the need for reformation within Islam and the reason Islam and the West need not clash.

--Joyce S. Dubensky, executive vice president, Tanenbaum Center, a secular, non-sectarian group providing education and tools to resolve religious tensions.

--Baroness Caroline Cox, humanitarian and life peer, British House of Lords. She is chancellor of Liverpool Hope University.

--Robert D'Alessandri, M.D., president and dean, the Commonwealth Medical College.

--Peter Okaalet, M.D., senior director, health and HIV/AIDS policy, MAP (Medical Assistance Programs) International.

--David Douglas, president of the board of the Washington, D.C.-based Water Advocates, an organization devoted to increasing America's involvement and funding of water supplies around the world.

--Richard Tren, founder of the health policy and advocacy group Africa Fighting Malaria.

--Daniel P. Meuser, former president, Pride USA.

--Douglas B. Shaw, executive vice president and senior fellow for national security affairs, Institute on Religion and Public Policy.

--John G. Heidenrich, Aurel-Dragos Munteanu Fellow on democracy and international affairs, Institute on Religion and Public Policy.

--Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, head of mission for the government of Southern Sudan to the U.S.

--Claudio Betti, deputy secretary general, Community of Sant'Egidio, a Christian community.

--Sondra Myers, senior fellow for international, civic and cultural projects, University of Scranton.

REGISTRATION: The public can register for the conference at the door for $50 per day or $120 for all three days. The conference will be held in the Nazareth Student Center at Marywood.

NATIONS REPRESENTED, BY POPULATION

China: 1,330,044,544

Pakistan: 172,800,048

Philippines: 96,061,680

Ethiopia: 82,544,840

Turkey: 71,892,808

Sudan: 40,218,456

Tanzania: 40,213,160

Morocco: 34,343,220 Chile: 16,454,143

Kazakhstan: 15,340,533

Angola: 12,531,357

Somalia: 9,558,666

Eritrea: 5,502,026

Moldova: 4,324,450

Namibia: 2,088,669

Bahrain: 718,306

Samoa: 217,083

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