Ambassador Moriarty Remarks for Fulbright Day

June 9, 2006

Thank you, Peter.

Minister Manandhar; Fulbright Board and staff; alumni; scholars; friends:

It is my pleasure to host this evening’s 45th Annual Fulbright Day, honoring America’s distinguished academic exchange program that brings Americans and Nepalis together in scholarship and builds mutual understanding between our countries.

Over the nearly five decades that the U.S. Educational Foundation has been in Nepal, more than 600 Nepali scholars have gone to the United States on Fulbright, East-West Center, and Humphrey scholarships.

Each of these programs is special in its own way – Fulbright for its two-year intensive study at American universities; the East-West Center for its focus on the nexus of American and Asia-Pacific affairs; and the Humphrey scholarships for a public policy program that combines scholarship and work experience in America.

But all of them have the underlying mission of the Fulbright Program: “to bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs" -- and "to increase the chance that nations will learn ... to live in peace and friendship.”

The events of the past year, and especially the impact of the Jana Andolan, have made the context of that statement even more relevant. The United States supports Nepal’s new government, along with the parties and the Nepali people, as they work together to address the many challenges ahead. The Fulbright program will play a role in that support.

In fact, Fulbright is one of the best examples of how the American people support democratic development. Through these scholarships we offer education and a glimpse into American life. Fulbright alumni bring back what is useful from America to Nepal and share it. I am proud that so many Fulbright, East-West Center, and Humphrey alumni are working in the new Nepal Government and elsewhere, bringing their expertise and their leadership to help build democracy and encourage development in this country.

Tonight the Embassy announces that we will be giving a $10,000 award to the Fulbright Alumni Association of Nepal to develop community-level democracy forums in which everyday Nepalis can discuss key issues such as the constituent assembly or civic participation.  FAAN’s exciting proposal to use Fulbright alumni to guide discussions on democracy and reach out to non-elite Nepali audiences may turn into a model for how alumni around the world can engage with their communities upon their return from the United States.

There are many exchange alumni among us tonight.  Those of you who have lived in America are aware that the American people are extraordinarily public-spirited.  When we see problems, we take action.  When we see someone in need, we lend a hand.  This spirit of personal responsibility is an element of the American character that has helped our nation through many challenges.

In recognition of that special American quality and in the spirit of tonight’s event – symbolizing the strong relationship between Nepal and the United States – we have invited a special guest with a deep love of Nepal to be with us.  I would like to call up American mountaineer Daniel Mazur.  Dan was the leader of the team who rescued a fellow climber near the summit of Mt. Everest two weeks ago today – and in doing so gave up his team’s own bid to reach the summit, although it was less than two hours away. Please welcome him to the podium.

Dan, while you are not a Fulbright scholar, you are an example of the American spirit of adventure, of courageous personal responsibility in the service of our common humanity.  It is a spirit that the Fulbright experience embodies.

I would like to share with you all a letter that we have received today from U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for Dan.

[READ LETTER]

Finally this evening, I would like to thank Peter Moran and his staff for another fine year at the U.S. Educational Foundation in Nepal.  The United States looks forward to many more years of American and Nepali scholars working together to advance Nepal’s goals of peace, prosperity, and democracy and to sharing with you and the world the character of Americans.

Thank you.