Ambassador
James B. Cunningham

Biography

Speeches

Ambassador Cunningham and Mayor Lankri officially unveil the new American Corner in Akko (U.S. Embassy photo by Matty Stern)

Remarks by Ambassador James B. Cunningham
Opening Ceremony
American Corners, Akko
April 1, 2009

AMBASSADOR CUNNINGHAM:  Thank you very much.  I have been in this career for more than 30 years and I can assure you that this is the most spectacular setting for an American Corner that I have seen anywhere also.  Congratulations to everybody who made this happen.

Shimon Lankri, Mr. Ahmad Sawaed, Director of the Akko Community Center, Peter Yarrow, David Broza, honored guests, “ Bruchim Habayim”(Hebrew: Welcome) “Ahlan WaSahlan” (Arabic: Welcome).  Welcome to all of you.

It is my pleasure to be here today to celebrate the opening of the American Corner. We are very proud to have partnered with the Municipality of Akko and the Akko Community Center in establishing this beautiful facility here at the Al-Saraya in the El Jazar Quarter of the Old City.   I believe this is the only one of the State Department’s many Corners in countries around the world that is located in a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Mayor Lankri and Mr. Sawaed, I appreciate the enthusiasm we saw when we first approached you with the possibility of establishing an American Corner here in Akko.   You immediately embraced the potential of our partnership.  Ever since, my staff and your staff have collaborated closely to establish this Corner.  I appreciate your support and congratulate you on the wonderful results we see today.

In addition to your support and involvement which was essential to make this happen, another reason we decided to open an American Corner in Akko was because Akko’s residents and leaders are committed to fostering communities that live in harmony. 

All of us were disturbed by the violence that occurred last October in this city, where Arabs and Jews have long lived together in peace.  Those painful clashes demonstrated the fragility of the fabric of Arab-Jewish co-existence and underscored the importance of continuing to bridge gaps, to maintain dialogue, and to try new ways -- or resume old ways -- to resolve issues that can divide people. 

My own society has suffered through similar experiences in which neighbors have turned on neighbors.  Our streets, too, have been inflamed by hatred.  We learned the hard way to be continually vigilant and to try to act responsibly and Americans continue to work hard at this every day.  It is not a problem that goes away.

This shared experience with social unrest inspired us at the Embassy to act to help our Israeli friends.  Last month, we brought to Israel two American community leaders who have helped their own community which is Brooklyn and New York to heal and maintain calm in the wake of disturbing racial incidents there.  Rabbi Bob Kaplan and Mr. Mohammad Razvi, a Muslim originally from Pakistan – visited several cities in Israel, including Akko, explaining the model that they apply effectively in Brooklyn.  They worked with community leaders on how to identify local goals that are reachable within neighborhoods -- how to lay the foundation that will build the neighbor-to-neighbor trust.  That work is hard, and long, and frustrating, but focused and capable of producing adaptation that leads to understanding and dialogue and diffuses tension.

We are hopeful that this newest American Corner will fulfill its promise as a point of information and interaction for those who want to learn about the United States and the American people.  But equally important, it is our great hope that the Corner will serve as a gathering place for dialogue, discussion and debate on issues important to the greater goals of peace.

Perhaps Greek historians got it right when they referred to this city as Aka, meaning “cure.” 

We are confident that this new American Corner will further my Embassy’s effort to extend the message of coexistence between Arabs and Jews in Israel. 

I invite all of you and the citizens of Akko to visit the Corner often, to participate in our programs, and to make the American Corner Akko a part of your community.  I am proud to be here today, really, as your newest resident and to participate in the opening.

Thank you for coming.

(Applause).