By Kay Scrimger
January 31, 2005

Chaired by Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf, the International Affairs Committee met January 17th to discuss issues ranging from international trade promotion to tsunami relief efforts, citizen diplomacy, nuclear non-proliferation, and Sister Cities.

Dr. Sherry Mueller, President of the National Council for International Visitors (NCIV), a non-profit founded in 1961, discussed the power of citizen diplomacy to promote international development activities and goodwill. NCIV represents a national network of 95 community-based organizations (CIVs), located in 43 states. The CIVs design and implement professional programs and training for foreign leaders, specialists, and international scholars. They also provide cultural activities and home visit opportunities for international visitors. For more information go to www.nciv.org.

Tom McGinty, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Domestic Operations, U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce, discussed how the U.S. Commercial Service promotes export promotions. "Our one-stop shops for export promotion are located in the 108 U.S. Export Assistance Centers across the United States," he said. In addition, the U.S. Commercial and Foreign Service maintains offices in 85 countries.

His office helps U.S. companies identify promising markets worldwide and facilitates development of good business relationships around the world. For more information about the U.S. Commercial Service assists small and mid'sized businesses export their products and services, visit the website www.export.gov.

Director of Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, Portia Palmer, urged mayors to consider her office as a "one'stop service station," which can assist mayors in a variety of ways, including helping them in organizing trade missions and planning conferences on international trade.

Palmer also described the system by which the 1.5 million Iraqi citizens in the U.S. could register and vote in the Iraqi elections on January 30, 2005, in five U.S. cities: Washington (DC), Detroit, Nashville, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

Palmer also described Secretary of State Colin Powell's travel to areas affected by the tsunami, during which he emphasized the importance of local leaders in rebuilding efforts and described the devastation he saw, thus allowing the American people to "begin to understand and grasp the circumstances of our brethren half a world away." She also pointed out the nation's pledge to provide $350 million for major relief assistance.

Aaron Tovish, Campaign Manager, Mayors for Peace, and Santa Paula Mayor Gabino Aguirre, also with Mayors for Peace, discussed the efforts of their organization to realize the "2020 vision," — a world free from the threat of nuclear disaster. A key part of their effort is a meeting planned at the United Nations in New York City in early May 2005.

Mayors for Peace is working toward an international delegation of 100 mayors for that meeting and encouraged the members of the committee to participate. For more information, contact aaron.tovish@ipb.org.

Sister Cities Executive Director Tim Honey described the work of his organization, including its Golden Anniversary celebration, which will begin at the July 27-31, international conference in Spokane (WA) and culminate at its international conference July 12-15, 2006 in Washington (DC). The theme of the Spokane meeting will be economic development and how local governments create sustainable development relationships over time.

Since its founding in 1956, Sister Cities has grown to 700 U.S. communities partnering with 1,500 communities abroad. More information is available at www.sister-cities.org.