Ambassador Ricciardone's remarks
Celebration of Save the Children's 25 years service to Egypt

Good evening, distinguished guests. Amina, thank you very much for that introduction. Welcome President MacCormack, my friend H.E. the governor, my friend Mr. Ali Meselhi, Governor Hemeida, thanks for coming. We are honored.

Let me also welcome Italian Ambassador Claudio Pacisico, Thank you for coming. It’s good to have you with us. As Charlie MacCormack has mentioned, Egypt has accomplished great things in the field of maternal and child health and I know Egyptians are proud of that, you should be. And we Americans, whether it be the American government or private citizens, are also proud to be your partners in this great endeavor, which as you see is not peculiar to Egypt. We share it in the United States and Italy and all over the world.

An essential part of Egypt’s success has been political will and determination on behalf of the people of Egypt, the government and popular organizations. First Lady Suzanne Mubarak herself has shown great leadership. So many women leaders around this country have really put their souls into this cause and have had great successes. In particular, all Egyptians and many Americans working in this field know the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood and what a forsa (opportunity) that has been for the improvement of maternal and child health, particularly for the education of girls and in all fields having to do with the welfare of the people of Egypt. It’s been a special privilege for the United States of America to join hands with Egypt through its popular organizations, through its government, through organizations like Save the Children, which you should know is funded not only by the United States Agency for International Development but also through private donations from the American people, because we’re all very proud as Americans about what Save the Children does worldwide.

As Mr. MacCormack has explained, Save the Children is an old, venerable organization of 75 years. Tonight we celebrate 25 years of accomplishment in Egypt. Last year I had the privilege, Marie and I had the privilege, of visiting Minya -- when the Governor was not Governor of Minufiyeh but of Minya -- and we saw lovely people there like Mohamed and Safaa, who showed us how their lives were changing, how they were changing their lives. I hope you notice not only their knowledge but also the confidence with which they speak. The confidence with which they serve is an example to the rest of their communities. This is exactly what the government of Egypt is trying to support, what we are trying to support in terms of sustainable development, something that means we can go away, our projects one day will go away, and the people themselves will be taking off and doing wonderful things. I saw Safaa and Mohamed when I was in Minya in a class which was teaching simple messages of “Sahetic Sarwatac” -- “your health is your wealth” -- and one message was about feeding children Keshk, a food made of meat and dried milk that is easy to preserve, very cheap, very nutritious, commonly available and you can store it. Through simple means such as this, we can save children’s lives, improve their lives and that of their family.

I should point out, if I could, I’m also proud that the United States has a long tradition of collaboration with Egypt going back even before Save the Children, even before USAID existed as an organization. During World War II, American doctors worked at the Abasseya Fever Hospital. After World War II, the government of Egypt invited the United States Navy to come in the form of what is now known an NAMRU – Navy Medical Research Unit – where my wife Marie worked when we were first in Egypt 20 years ago. They focused famously on finding a treatment and a vaccine later for Bilharzia or Schistosomiasis, but they also developed treatments for oral rehydration therapy that saved many, many children’s lives. And NAMRU continues to this day to work with Egyptian doctors and researchers to develop public health not only for Egyptians but for all of us around the world to benefit from medical developments.

Secretary Rice has said that diplomacy is rooted in partnership not paternalism, in doing things with other people and not for them. We seek to strengthen our partnership with Egypt to help Egyptians better their own lives, to build their own nation, find their own solutions, and transform their own futures. We pledge to continue that work together. We salute Save the Children worldwide. Congratulations on your 25 years. We wish you many more successes here in Egypt and around the world. You heard the word by now, Alf Mabruk, a thousand congratulations.

I would like to take the chance and wish you happy Eid el Adha to all my Egyptian Muslim friends, I also wish you a Merry Christmas to all in the audience, to all the Egyptians and Americans and to all of us a very Happy New Year, a new year full of peace and happiness.