Fund for Reconciliation and Development Gala Dinner 2002
Third Annual Gala Dinner with Foreign Ministers Biggest Ever
On September 17, 2002, FRD hosted the third annual Gala Dinner in celebration of US cooperation with Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The dinner honored H.E. Mr. Hor Namhong, Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia, H.E. Mr. Somsavat Lengsavad Deputy Prime and Minister Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and H.E. Nguyen Dy Nien, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The Gala was hosted by the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Attending were 175 representatives of foundations, educational institutions, non-profit NGOs and government. Foods from all three countries were served in the dramatic setting high above Times Square.
Special guests included HE Abelardo Moreno, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Cuba, HE Sun Saphoeun, Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Kingdom of Cambodia and HE Chem Widhya, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Kingdom of Cambodia.
Present at the dinner were the Permanent Representatives to the UN: HE Ouch Borith of Cambodia, HE Alounkeo Kittikhoun of Lao PDR, & HE Nguyen Thanh Chau of Vietnam, as well as the Ambassadors to the US: HE Eng Roland of Cambodia, HE Phanthong Phommahaxay of Lao PDR, HE Nguyen Tam Chien of Vietnam.
The Gala was organized by the Fund for Reconciliation and Development in cooperation with the Institute of International Education, Oxfam America, US-Vietnam Trade Council, and Vietnam Veterans of America.
Support was received from Aid to Southeast Asia, Angkor Trading, Asia Society, Carter Hotel, Citigroup, DBM Import-Export, Inc., Highlands Coffee, Hunter + Partners, Inc., Institute of International Education, Persimmon Asian Literature, Arts and Culture, Social Science Research Council, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Young Graduate Capacity Building Center.
Attending in spirit were the Asian Cultural Council, Catharin Dalpino, DeMatteis Vietnam, Indochina Surgical Educational Exchange, Mennonite Central Committee, PeaceTrees Vietnam, and Mac Shin, a veteran of the OSS team that assisted Ho Chi Minh in 1945.
Food was prepared by Cambodia Cuisine, 87 South Elliot Place, Brooklyn, NY, Tel: 718-858-3262; Saigon Catering. Tel: 347-528-8913; and families of the Lao Mission to the UN.
To read the speech given by HE Hor Namhong, Senior Minister & Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia, click here, or in Word format here.
To read the speech given by HE Somesevat Lengsavad, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Lao PDR, click here, or for Word format here.
To read the speech given by HE Nguyen Dy Nien, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, click here, or for Word format here. Note: this is the prepared speech brought by the Minister; HE Nien spoke on these topics, though not in these exact words.
