(Posted November 10, 2000)

Edward S. Walker, Jr., assistant secretary for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, will address the current crisis in the Middle East and the role of the U.S. in brokering regional peace agreements and building security in the region at 4 p.m., Monday, Nov. 13 in Alumni Hall in the Brumbaugh Science Center on the Juniata College campus.

Along with his current position, Mr. Walker has also served several other critical roles in Washington, D.C. concerning international relations. He has most recently served as the Ambassador to Israel from 1997 to 1999. He also held the positions of Ambassador to the Arab Republic of Egypt (1994-1997), Deputy Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations with ambassadorial rank (1993-1994), and Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates through the period of the Gulf War (1989-1992).

Since his entry into the Foreign Service in 1967, Mr. Walker has served extensively in the Middle East. In the course of his career he has toured Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Egypt. He also held the position if Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia. His Washington, D.C. assignments include two years as Special Assistant to the President?s Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Negotiations (1979-1981), and two years as Executive Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State (1982-1984). In 1988, Mr. Walker was appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs.

Mr. Walker was born in Abington, Pennsylvania. He earned his bachelor?s degree at Hamilton College and his master?s degree at Boston University. In 1962, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving three years in Heidelberg, Germany. Later, in 1985, he attended the Royal College of Defense Studies in London.

Because of the critical nature of events in the Middle East, cancellation of the lecture is possible. If you are coming from a distance, please call Juniata College (814-641-3464) on the day of the lecture to confirm.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.