March
17, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact
Person: Tandy Awaya
Phone: (work) 944-7784; (cell) 927-3714
Indonesia-The Road Ahead
“Indonesia-The Road Ahead for the SBY Government, Disaster
Reconstruction and Defense Relations with the U.S.,” a luncheon forum featuring the United
States-Indonesia Society President Ambassador Alphonse La Porta will be held Thursday,
March 24, 2005 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Ilikai Hotel, Pacific Ballroom , 1777 Ala Moana
Blvd.
Amb.
La Porta will have just returned from Indonesia with fresh perspectives
on the country’s current prospects. The cost to attend is $30. Parking is $3 in the Ilikai Main Tower parking garage. RSVP by March 17. Contact Tandy at 944-7784 for reservations
and more information.
Ambassador Alphonse F. La Porta assumed the
presidency of The United States-Indonesia Society on April 1, 2004. Previously, Amb. La Porta served as the
Political Advisor to the U.S. Commander-in-Chief of the Regional Headquarters
Allied Forces in southern Europe from January 2001 to November 2003.
Amb. La Porta was the U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia from December 1997 to
November 2000.
Amb. Alphonse F. La Porta retired from the U.S.
Foreign Service in September 2003 after more than 38 years of service.
Amb. La Porta is experienced in Asian affairs, having served twice in Indonesia, as well as in Malaysia, Turkey and New Zealand. He was Principal
Officer of the U.S. Consulate in Medan in 1978-1981 and he was
also Political Officer and Chief of the Consular Section in the U.S. Embassy in
Jakarta from 1967 to 1970. In Washington, Amb. La
Porta served in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs as Director of the
Office of Cambodian Genocide Investigation, Executive Assistant to the
President’s Special Representative for the Philippine economic reform, and
Deputy Director of the Office of Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore
Affairs. He also served as President and Vice President of the American
Foreign Service Association in 1995-1997 and had several assignments in State
Department management.
Amb. La Porta is a graduate of the National War College, Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and New York University. He served as a
commissioned officer in the United States Army from 1961 to 1963. He speaks
both Indonesian and Turkish.
This event is sponsored by the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council (PAAC), East-West Center, and Friends of the East-West Center. PAAC is a private, non-profit organization
that serves as the World Affairs Council for the State of Hawai'i.
PAAC promotes increased understanding of world affairs, particularly
Asia-Pacific issues, by sponsoring speaker forums and conferences, facilitating
cross-cultural exchange of international visitors, and conducting global
education outreach programs at Hawai’i high schools and community colleges
statewide. Visit PAAC on the web at www.paachawaii.org.
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