Queen Rania Speaks at National Prayer Breakfast

ROYAL TOUR: “The Wild Swans” Exhibit in Washington, DC

“The Wild Swans” Exhibit
June 4, 2010 to July 3, 2010
Cafritz Gallery at White-Meyer House
1624 Crescent Place NW, Washington, DC 20009
Gallery hours: Wednesday – Sunday 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Admission: Free

Here is a wonderful opportunity to see some original artwork by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. She is the one that designed the elaborate costumes and created the stunning decoupage sets for the JJ Film adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s tale “The Wild Swans.” The exhibit is now on display in Washington, DC. After July 3rd, her designs will be going to Beijing, China.

Another Visit to America for King Abdullah II

King Abdullah II of Jordan will be back in the United States towards the end of the week. He will be accompanied by his elegant wife, Queen Rania. On Thursday, the king will be meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York to contemplate the possibility of “expanding the UN's efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and foster Middle East peace and stability.” The following day, Abdullah will be speaking at Princeton University. The monarch will wrap up his visit in Washington D.C. where he will rendezvous with President George W. Bush “to discuss means to push the peace process towards a comprehensive peace agreement that addresses all aspects of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.” According to the statement released by the White House press secretary, "The President and Mrs. Bush will welcome King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan to the White House on Tuesday, March 4, 2008. The President looks forward to discussing with the King the bilateral relationship between the United States and Jordan, Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts, the situation in Lebanon, and other regional issues. Following his meeting with King Abdullah, the President and Mrs. Bush will host the King and Queen for a private lunch."

Photo: Petra

Princess Máxima Converses with World Bank President

On September 20th, Princess Máxima of the Netherlands met with the president of the World Bank, Robert Zoellick in Washington, D.C. to discuss her work with the United Nations Advisors Group on Inclusive Financial Sectors, a group that was formed in 2006 to oversee the agenda that began with the 2005 International Year of Microcredit. Not exceeding the two year term assignment, the twenty-five advisors counsel the "United Nations system and member states on global issues relating to inclusive finance."

Prince Willem-Alexander Goes To Washington

In preparation for the International Year of Sanitation 2008, the Prince of Orange outlined the goals of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation at a Washington D.C. meeting yesterday and said: “Today we start mapping out a course of action that will enable us to pick up the pace on water and sanitation. As far as I am concerned, this meeting will focus on one central question. What do we want to achieve by the end of 2008, and how do we achieve it? It is important that between now and November, when the International Year of Sanitation will be launched, we take the step from general objectives to measurable targets. Targets expressed in figures, percentages and money, and in concrete project plans and partnerships.”

Below is a segment of Prince of Orange’s speech from the Washington DC preparatory meeting to organize the International Year of Sanitation 2008 in New York.

"Ladies and gentlemen,"

"Welcome. As chair of UNSGAB, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, I was thrilled last December when the General Assembly accepted our recommendation and unanimously adopted the resolution declaring 2008 the International Year of Sanitation. Today I’m delighted that we can officially start preparing to make it a success. There is an enormous amount of work to be done and I thank you in advance for your readiness to do your share."

"UNSGAB was established in 2004 to speed up progress on MDG 7, target 10, the MDG target on water and sanitation. Our own Hashimoto Action Plan summarises in just eleven pages the points requiring swift and resolute action. In short: we need more political commitment, more cross-sectoral cooperation and more money. The International Year of Sanitation is an important vehicle to achieve all this."

"Today we start mapping out a course of action that will enable us to pick up the pace on water and sanitation. As far as I am concerned, this meeting will focus on one central question. What do we want to achieve by the end of 2008, and how do we achieve it? It is important that between now and November, when the International Year of Sanitation will be launched, we take the step from general objectives to measurable targets. Targets expressed in figures, percentages and money, and in concrete project plans and partnerships."

"And that immediately brings me to the question I want to ask each and every one of you. What can you do, en route to 2015, to put achievement of the sanitation goals on the fast track? What organisational and financial sources can you tap? And how are you going to do it? I hope to hear more about that today. I can imagine that you also have questions. For instance, what role will UN DESA play as lead agency? What role will the other UN agencies play? And what can UNSGAB itself contribute through the Hashimoto Action Plan? In other words, today we have to look each other squarely in the face and say what we promise to contribute to the International Year of Sanitation 2008!"

The Prince of Orange’s entire speech from the Washington D.C. preparatory meeting to organize the International Year of Sanitation 2008 in New York can be read here.

Photos: Unicef