By Kay Scrimger
July 4, 2011

Chaired by Oakland (CA) Mayor Jean Quan, the International Affairs Committee met June 18.

Adopted Resolutions

The committee considered five resolutions that had been submitted in a timely manner — by May 18 — and three new resolutions. All were passed. These were:

• Support of the National Export Initiative

• Comprehensive Immigration Reform to Allow the Redesignation of Haitian Temporary Status Protection Applicants to Resident Status and the Suspension of Removal of Haitian Nationals

• Temporary Protected Status for Haitian Nationals Entering the United States between January 13, 2010 and December 31, 2010 and Suspension of Removal of Haitian Nationals

• Supporting Bipartisan Legislation to Protect American Jobs and Consumers Threatened by Online Theft

• Resolution in Support of Improving International Travel Facilitation through the Discover America Partnership Reactivation and Ready for Takeoff Report

• Resolution in Support of the United Nations Association of the United States of America

• Calling on the President to Work with Leaders of Other Nuclear Weapon States for Elimination of Nuclear Weapons by 2020 and Calling on Congress to Cut Funding for Nuclear Weapons and to Redirect Those Funds to Meet the Needs of Cities

• Supporting Enhanced U.S. Mayors-International Partnerships

Three speakers were before the committee. Japan Local Government Center in New York New Executive Director Masaaki Akagi described the work of his office, one of seven in the world. The others are in London, Paris, Seoul, Sydney, Singapore, and Beijing.

Akagi’s New York office fosters, develops, and nurtures mutual understanding and relationships between Japanese and U.S. local and state leaders. This is accomplished in many ways, including participation in meetings, such as the Conference of Mayors Annual Meetings and through the exchange of ideas on issues of administration and management, as well as in a continuing series of activities.

Sister Cities International former CEO and President Patrick Madden is the Executive Director of the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UNA-USA), a program of the United Nations Foundation.

Madden described for the committee the various programs of UNA — its nationwide membership, its educational efforts, and human rights programs, and its role in building better understanding of and support for the United Nations among Americans and informing elected officials, policymakers, and local communities about the importance of U.S. participation in the U.N. His organization also facilitates the Model United Nations program for young people, which this year was held in the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Reta Jo Lewis, hand-picked by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to serve as the Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs, is, in the words of Clinton, “leading the State Department’s efforts to build relationships between state and local officials in the United States and their counterparts around the world to benefit our objectives here.”

Lewis described her efforts to open doors to new partners, both domestically and abroad. Among her many activities are networking and outreach to governors, mayors, city and county officials, tribal governments, and state and local organizations in the U.S., Asia, Africa, and Latin America. An exciting example of her work is The Smart Partnership Dialogue: Global Engagement Series, which brings state and local leaders together to learn more about the work of the State Department, meet their specialists, and exchange ideas and best practices.

In addition, Quan recognized from the audience Shaikh Mohammed Bin Essa Al-Khalifa, CEO of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, and his delegation.