Information about both guests can be accessed at the following web sites:

http://www.harrywalker.com/speakers_template.cfm?Spea_ID=48

http://www.harrywalker.com/speakers_template.cfm?Spea_ID=465

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. —The University of Arkansas will host a forum on the United States and World Affairs, featuring a discussion with Benazir Bhutto and Ehud Barak, the former prime ministers of Pakistan and Israel. The forum will take place at 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 24, in Barnhill Arena.

The event, paid for by the student speakers’ fee, is free and open to the public. Tickets will be required for admittance and can be obtained from the information desk of the Arkansas Union on a first-come first-served basis. Call (479) 575-2304 or 575-5205 for distribution dates. (NOTE: The tickets will not be available until Oct. 9th or later.) If tickets remain available, they can be obtained at the door prior to the event.

The two world leaders will discuss the future of America in an age of terrorism, the conflict among Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, as well as the future foreign partnerships of the countries, which are both strategic partners of the United States and nuclear-armed states.

This will be the first time that Bhutto and Barak have been brought together to jointly discuss their views in a public forum.

Benazir Bhutto:

As the former prime minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto is considered a living icon of the battle for democracy, and stands with only a handful of female executive leaders who have shaped the global events of the last century.

First elected prime minister at the age of 35, Benazir Bhutto became the youngest chief executive officer in the world and the first female prime minister in the Muslim world. After just 20 months in office, her government was unconstitutionally dismissed by a rival political party. She was reelected as prime minister in 1993.

In her speeches, Bhutto shares her dramatic journey as prime minister of one of the most hostile political environments of our time. She continues to devote her time speaking around the world to promote the need for basic democratic freedoms for the people of Pakistan, including freedom of the press, economic stability, and gender equality.

Ms. Bhutto resides in Dubai and makes frequent trips to the United States.

Ehud Barak:

A leader of his country in both war and peace, Ehud Barak served until recently as Israel’s 10th prime minister. During his tenure, Prime Minister Barak lead Israel out of prolonged recession into an economic boom, with 5.9 percent annual growth, record foreign investments, near zero inflation, a halved deficit and significantly decreased external debt.

The core of the Barak government’s effort was devoted to the peace process. In May 2000 Prime Minister Barak ordered the withdrawl of the Israeli Defense Forces from South Lebanon, ending 18 years of Israel’s presence there. He led far-reaching efforts to negotiate peace agreements, first with Syria and later with the Palestinian Authority with the active participation of President Bill Clinton and his administration. However, these negotiations did not result in the breakthroughs necessary to conclude final agreements.

Further details about the event will be released as they are available.