Meridian Council Salon Series: A Conversation with Her Excellency Adela Raz, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan featuring Award-winning Journalist, Robert Moore

On Thursday, February 3, 2022, Meridian International Center organized the first reception in the 2022 Salon Dinner Series. These intimate, curated salon receptions and dinners are designed to spark thoughtful dialogue among different perspectives and promote the exchange of ideas over a shared meal. The Meridian Council was pleased to welcome Ambassador Adela Raz from the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and award-winning journalist Robert Moore with ITV News.

Ambassador Raz and Moore discussed the current state of governance in Afghanistan compounded by the effects of climate change, humanitarian crises, national security and discussed the future of international engagement. Ambassador Raz expressed concern for the economic position of Afghan citizens but hope for the next generation of Afghan leaders. Speaking about the transformation in Afghanistan over the last twenty years, Ambassador Raz urged “Do not think your investment was wasted. The country changed, but the change was in the people.” The reception was attended by Meridian Council members, international security experts, and notable guests including Ambassador Ivonne A-Baki of Ecuador and Ambassador Andrés Durán and Mrs. Isabel Lindner of Uruguay.

Meridian and the Meridian Council are grateful to Omar and Sofia Masroor of Bistro Aracosia for generously donating food for the event, Tracy Bernstein for sharing her residence, and Shahin Mafi for underwriting this Salon Dinner.

Honored Speakers:

Mrs. Adela Raz is the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the United States of America. Ambassador Raz has 12 years of extensive experience in political and economic analysis, policy development, media and communication, and governance. She previously served as Afghanistan’s first female Permanent Representative to the United Nations from December 2018 until July 2021. Prior to her appointment to the UN, Ambassador Raz was Deputy Minister for Economic Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from March 2016 to December 2018. In 2013, she served as the first female Deputy Spokesperson and Director of Communications for President Hamid Karzai. After President Ashraf Ghani took office in 2014, she worked as the Chief of Staff of the Administrative Office of the President. She graduated from Simmons University in Boston and received her M.A. in Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University.

Mr. Robert Moore is one of the world's most experienced foreign correspondents, working for the UK's main commercial network, ITV. He has worked across 6 continents on breaking news for nearly thirty years, and lived in Moscow, Jerusalem, London, Brussels, and Washington. His reporting has centered on conflict zones and humanitarian tragedies, ranging from the Rwandan genocide to the Balkan wars. He is the author of the best-selling book on the Kursk submarine disaster in Russia in 2000, which was made into a Hollywood film starring Colin Firth. Robert's most recent reporting has been focused on the January 6th attack on Congress.  He was the only TV reporter in the world embedded with the mob that stormed the Capitol.  His scoop that day has received international acclaim and took the top prize for news reporting at the Monte Carlo Film Festival.  Both the Foreign Press Association and the British Journalism Awards last month gave him the accolade of Journalist of the Year for 2021.