ARU DG Prof. Dr. Wakar Uddin at Iftar Reception by US Secretary of State John Kerry; Receives Reassurance from the Secretary in Support of the Rohingya Cause

Arakan Rohingya Union Director General Prof. Dr. Wakar Uddin at Iftar Reception by US Secretary of State John Kerry; Receives Reassurance from the Secretary in Support of the Rohingya Cause 

RB News

July 27, 2013

Washington, D.C. - US Secretary of State John Kerry hosted an Iftar dinner reception to a number of renowned Muslim leaders, US Congressmen, and several diplomats at the State Department on July 24, 2013. Prof. Dr. Wakar Uddin, the Director General of Arakan Rohingya Union, was among the guests invited to the dinner reception at the Benjamin Franklin Room in the Harry Truman State Building. 

Secretary Kerry congratulated the Muslims on the occasion of Holy month of Ramadan and delivered a speech starting with “Assalamu Alaikum; Ramadan Kareem”. The main theme of Secretary Kerry’s speech was the strength of diversity of religion and culture in the United States as well as in many parts of the world, and how Muslim community in the United States contributed to this country. Additionally, Secretary Kerry stressed the significance of inter-faith relationship among the three Abrahamic faiths (Christianity, Islam, and Judaism), and also with the other major faiths of the world. 

After the reception, Secretary Kerry spoke with some of the guests. Dr. Wakar Uddin had an opportunity to discuss Rohingya issues with Secretary Kerry. “I was overwhelmed with joy and surprise when Secretary asked me straight about the Arakan Rohingya Union (ARU) and the Burmese Rohingya Association of North America (BRANA)” Dr. Uddin told the RB News.

“Secretary knew BRANA very well during past several years when he was the Chair of Senate Foreign Relations Committee, but now he seems to be quite familiar with ARU also”. Dr. Uddin added. “I am truly surprised at how much in depth Secretary Kerry is aware of our work on Rohingya issues at the international level” Dr. Uddin stated. He also briefed the Secretary the recent ARU Congress meeting at OIC Headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, including the adoption of the Charter, expansion of the membership to over 60 organizations globally, the election of new officers of ARU, and the strategic work plan”. 

Secretary Kerry congratulated the ARU members and the Rohingya people worldwide on institutionalization of ARU, and encouraged Rohingya people to sustain the efforts for their cause. Secretary Kerry also acknowledged the importance of democratic transformation in Myanmar, and the potential of the fledgling democracy in Myanmar for bringing peace and prosperity along with the rights of the ethnic minorities with peaceful co-existence. 

The Secretary reassured Dr. Uddin of the United States Government’s commitment to help find a durable solution for the Rohingya people in Myanmar. Dr. Uddin expressed his deepest gratitude to the Secretary Kerry and the Government of United States for their support for the rights of Rohingya and their efforts to bring peace and communal harmony in Arakan state.

Additionally, Dr. Uddin had the opportunity to discuss the Rohingya issues with a number of US Congressmen, diplomats, and dignitaries, including Congressman André Carson (D-IN), Congressman Keith Ellison (DFL-MN), U.S. Special Envoy to OIC Rashad Hussain, OIC Ambassador to the United Nations Ufuk Gokcen, and Aljazeera America’s Ali Velshi (formerly with CNN). All of the dignitaries expressed their unequivocal supports for Rohingya, and offered Dr. Uddin their assistance in ARU’s quest for the rights of Rohingya ethnic minority in Myanmar.