On Thursday, March 26, 2009 The Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa will feature His Excellency Sameh Shoukry, Ambassador to the United States from the Arab Republic of Egypt, for the sixth address in the Conversation and Dinner with African Ambassadors Series. The event will be held on Capitol Hill in the Russell Senate Office Building, Room 325. Honorary Co-Chairs Senator Richard G. Lugar and Congressman Donald M. Payne will also be in attendance.

Ambassador Shoukry is expected to focus on Egypt's economic and political significance on the continent, its influence in the region and its role in the African Union.

The Ambassador's diplomatic career spans 30 years.  Prior to his appointment as the Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Shoukry was Egypt's Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations from 2005-2008. He also served in the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the Ambassador to Austria and as the Secretary for Information to His Excellency, President Mubarak.

Journalist and former CNN White House correspondent, Frances Anne Hardin, will moderate the discussion between the Ambassador and an audience of Members of Congress, diplomats, journalists, government officials as well as corporate and civil society.

Conversation and Dinner with African Ambassadors Series provides a unique forum for African Ambassadors to engage in dialogue with policymakers and the media about the foreign policy objectives of their respective countries. The Africa Society launched this innovative program on Capitol Hill in 2006. Since its inception, the Conversation and Dinner Series has engaged an audience of approximately 500 participants. The series is sponsored by ExxonMobil and Mars, Inc.

This program reinforces the mission of The Africa Society to engage and educate Americans about Africa and to create through partnerships a better understanding of its peoples, diverse cultures, histories and economies.