Address To The Sixth General Assembly
Of The P.E.A.C.E Programme
February 26, 2005
Bethlehem University

Distinguished Guests, Dignitaries, Dear colleagues. On behalf of the P.E.A.C.E. Programme Steering Committee and the Administration of Bethlehem University, allow me to welcome each and everyone of you to the opening of the Sixth General Assembly of the P.E.A.C.E. Programme.We are proud to host such a prestigious gathering at a time when history is in the making for the Palestinian people who deserve a country, a flag and a national anthem compounded with political sovereignty and independent viable economy.

Eventually, we have succeeded to convene after three major postponements that caused great inconvenience to all of you, and today we are meeting in a rather low intensity political climate, hoping with cautious optimism that a political breakthrough will materialize in the near future It is unfortunate that after four years of bloody confrontations, destroyed economies, and shattered hopes for peace and reconciliation, the dire need for serious political action and diplomacy is still inadequate. More than ever, the manifestations of hatred, distrust and fear are being portrayed in the most repulsive way. The Palestinian/Israeli situation continues to be deteriorating and the prospects for peace are still remote.
Universities, by nature, assume tremendous challenges because inherently they are supposed not to accept the current status of their students, but rather strive to mould their character through formal education, equipping them with the necessary tools for an increasingly globalized World, and providing them with skills in democratic values. During the normal conditions this in itself is a formidable challenge to overcome.

Under difficult political circumstances, such as the politically volatile environment surrounding our Palestinian Universities, the task becomes even more formidable and the sense of dedication and commitment to the mission and the importance of the higher learning institutions becomes even a steeper challenge. Despite the hurdles that have blocked their paths since their inception, Palestinian Universities are considered a success story, with many wonderful moments, when new buildings are dedicated, when new programs are adopted, when graduation ceremonies are held, and when we hear that the Palestinian society appreciates and acknowledges their unique role. In the midst of such an unstable political context, the work of Palestinian Universities becomes extremely important, because they provide for students an environment characterized by pluralism, openness and respect. Students come together from various social and religious backgrounds, from cities, villages and refugee camps, thus forming a unity within diversity.

Growth and development int Palestinian Universities continue despite the painful political realities and consequent suffering of the Palestinian people. Palestinian Universities enter the third millennium in a spirit of enthusiasm and hope, together with a consciousness of the moral values and principles that had guided their action since their inception.

As we look towards the future, we have to put all the pain and the suffering behind us. As Palestinian Universities, our mission is to prepare our Palestinian youth for the moment when they can assume their long-overdue status among the family of nations. This is our contribution to peace-building. We hope and pray that our noble endeavours will be rewarded. We believe that the day will come, when the voice of reason and justice will prevail, and our students will be part of a new hopefully stable region. Only with your help and assistance we can continue this challenging path, and with your perpetual support we can build more bridges with our neighbours and the World at large. Our mission is not easy, yet we are determined.

Ladies & Gentlemen, distinguished guests, we call upon you to get in touch with your Parlimentary contacts, your governments and Church leaders, NGOs in order to launch a campaign that would explain to the Israeli authorities that our universities and the safety of our students is a crucial and substantial matter, and that academic rights are an integral component of basic human rights. On a different note, it will however, be totally unfair not to acknowledge the role of the European Union in developing Palestinian infrastructure and in particular the funding of the third sector as well as the Palestinian NGOs that comprise the integral part of Palestinian Civil Society. The EU also had been instrumental in helping Palestinian Universities covering their operational costs since the signing of the Oslo agreement until 1999.

We would like to acknowledge the roles of USAID, AMIDEAST and other U.S. cultural organizations that still play an imperative role in the professional development of our faculty and staff. However, one cannot deny the full support of UNESCO to the P.E.A.C.E. Programme in all aspects and its outstanding contributions towards cultural preservations is highly commended. Allow me to extend my gratitude and deep appreciation in my capacity as the President of the P.E.A.C.E Programme to the representative. of UNESCO, Ms. Costanza Farina for partially covering the expenses of this conference.
I would also like to thank the specialized U.N. Organizations for their seminal contributions towards the development of education in Palestine. We are aslo indebted to the World Bank that has been investing in developing our higher educational system.

Finally, I would like to wish all the participants great success in their deliberations, hopefully together we can overcome the great challenges that we encounter in our pursuit of excellence in the academic fields of teaching, research and development. May God bless you.

Thank you.

Professor Manuel Hassassian
President of the P.E.A.C.E. Programme and
Executive Vice President
Of Bethlehem University.