Iraqi and American students talk peace

AMMAN, Jordan, July 14 (UPI) -- American and Iraqi students attended the opening day of a youth peacekeepers conference Monday in Jordan to discuss their role in the future of Iraq.

The conference, organized by the Youth Initiative for Progress in Iraq and supported by Princeton University and the United World College, is planned for 16 American and 16 Iraqi students from July 14 to 25.

Michael Schoenleber, the 19-year-old founder of the Youth Initiative, said the purpose of the youth peacekeepers conference is to give students the knowledge base to work toward bridging the gap to peace.

"This conference will enable the participants to break down these barriers by working together to create and improve educational opportunities and recreational facilities for Iraqi youth," he said in a statement.

The conference will educate students on cultural and historical aspects of each other's countries, work toward the development of youth-run programs in Iraq and toward finding solutions to some of the underlying problems there.

The program, supported by Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih, also will work with U.S. organizations to bring educational supplies and class materials to Iraq through a cultural exchange.

"The situation in Iraq underscores the immediate need for greater understanding between the youth of both countries," Schoenleber said.