Saudi expert to speak at series on US-Saudi relations Sept. 26-29, 2005 (Illinois Tour)

August 30, 2005
Contact: Sarah Silhan (773) 238-1086
For Immediate Release
Mary Morrissey (773) 238-3028 President, Council on American-Saudi Dialogue, and Former White House Aide, Les Janka, to speak on currentU.S. and Saudi Arabia relations

What: A discussion of the relationship between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the challenges which lie ahead for the Bush administration and its foreign policy.Who: Mr. Les Janka, President, Council on American-Saudi dialogue and former Pentagon and White House senior international affairs staff member to Presidents Nixon, Ford and Reagan.

When: A series of appearances beginning Monday, Sept. 26 and ending Thursday, Sept. 29.Monday, September 26 at 7 p.m. Peoria World Affairs Council Barrack’s Cater Inn, 1224 Pioneer Parkway, Peoria, Ill.

Tuesday, September 27 at 6 p.m. Rotary Club of Chicago, Rogers Park, Devon Bank, 6445 N. Western Ave., lower level.

Wednesday, September 28 at 7 a.m. Rotary Club of Central DuPage County Fairways Restaurant, Cantigny Golf Club, Mack Road, Wheaton, Ill.

Thursday, September 29 at noon, Chicago O’Hare Rotary Club The Great Escape Restaurant, 9540 W. Irving Park Road, Schiller Park, Ill.

*Mr. Janka will be available for interviews at each of these events, as well as between appearances. Please call Sarah Silhan to set a date and time to speak with Mr. Janka.

Background: Mr. Janka worked for the US Information Agency from 1964 to 1968, then served as the Assistant Dean of the School of Advanced International Studies until 1971, when he was appointed Special Assistant to Dr. Henry Kissinger on the National Security Council (NSC) at the White House. He became Senior NSC Staff Member for Legislative and Public Affairs in 1975. Moving to the Department of Defense in 1976, he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Near Eastern, African and South Asian Affairs, and was awarded the Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Medal in 1978.

Before joining the Reagan Administration, Mr. Janka worked as a consultant assisting major European corporations in marketing advanced military technology to the Pentagon. In 1983, after serving in the White House as Special Assistant to President Reagan and Deputy Press Secretary for Foreign Affairs, he joined Neill and Company, one of Washington’s premier foreign policy lobbying and public affairs consulting firms. As Executive Vice President, he led that firm’s extensive international political and trade advisory practice in the Middle East and Africa.

A native of California, Mr. Janka received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Redlands and his Master of Arts degree in International Economics and MiddleEastern Studies and Arabic from the Paul Nitze School of Advanced International Studies of the John Hopkins University.

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Morrissey Public Affairs1917 W. 103rd Street, Ste. 5Chicago, IL 60643773-238-1086 direct773-550-5537 mobile