Special Representative for Mine Action Announces Public-Private Partnership at People to People International's 15th Worldwide Conference

The announcement will take place at the Conference Awards Gala at the Westin Crown Center that evening where People to People International will posthumously award its most prestigious honor, the Eisenhower Medallion, to the late King Hussein of Jordan.

"Encouraging humanitarian activities between countries was one of the goals envisioned by President Eisenhower when he founded People to People International in 1956," remarked Special Representative Bloomfield. "I am delighted to welcome People to People International to our growing network of public-private partnerships in order to help make the world mine safe, an endeavor that is consistent with this great organization's mission. I should note that during the last years of his life, King Hussein was working to rid Jordan of its buried landmines."

Earlier in the day, Special Representative Bloomfield will discuss leadership with students at People to People International's Global Youth Forum.

Special Representative Bloomfield also serves as Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs. The Bureau of Political-Military Affairs is responsible for the U.S. Department of State's humanitarian demining functions that range from rendering actual demining assistance worldwide to promoting public-private partnerships to reinforce official mine action efforts.

Media inquiries should be directed to Karen Hoch, Director of Communications, People to People International, at (816) 225-3774, or via email at karenh@ptpi.org.

To learn more about the U.S. Department of State's humanitarian demining efforts, visit the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs website at http://www.state.gov/t/pm/. Click on Office of Mine Action Initiatives and Partnerships and Humanitarian Demining Programs.