present a lecture by

His Excellency Abuzed Omar Dorda

Former Prime Minister & Former Ambassador of Libya to the UN

Where do we go from here?
Libya & the United States

After almost 20 years as a virtual pariah state, Libya is about to resume its place on the world stage, as well as its role as a major source of energy for the United States. With the announcement earlier this year by Libya's leader, Colonel Muammar Qadhafi, that Libya would renounce its efforts to acquire nuclear arms, the U.S.-Libyan relationship has undergone a sea change, one that promises to bring Americans and American oil companies back to Libya for the first time since 1986 while opening Libya to international society and foreign investors.

One of the primary movers behind the U.S.-Libya rapprochement is Abuzed Omar Dorda. Ambassador Dorda was one of the top Libyan activist diplomats responsible for renewing relations between the two countries in the late 1990s, resulting in direct talks on terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. One of the longest-serving Libyan officials, Ambassador Dorda will be speaking on the future of U.S.-Libyan relations in an event being sponsored by both the San Diego World Affairs Council and the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice. This event, which is being held in the Joan B. Kroc Institute theatre, is open to the public and admission will be free.

Ambassador Dorda is one of the longest serving Libyan officials and most loyal to the regime since the revolution of 1969 led by Colonel Muamar Qadhafi.  Dorda is currently the Minister of Railroad Projects.  Ambassador Dorda assumed that post after completing his assignment as Libya's Ambassador to the UN in New York from 1997 until 2003. As Libya's Ambassador to the UN, Mr. Dorda worked tirelessly with UN officials on the Lockerbie case.

Prior to becoming Libya's Prime Minister from 1990 to 1997, Mr. Dorda served as Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Economy, Minister of Municipalities, Minister of Information and Culture, and Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs from 1970 to 1990.