June 30, 2005 ImagineNations and DC Internationals to Honor H.E. Ambassador Karim Kawar and King of Rai, Cheb Khaled for Empowering Yourth WASHINGTON, June 27/U.S. Newswire/ -- ImagineNations Group and DC Internationals will honor H.E. Ambassador Karim Kawar of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Algerian Celebrity, Arab cultural icon and King of Rai, Cheb Khaled, for their endless efforts to bridge cultural divides and empower youth around the world at a special reception at the Embassy of Jordan on Thursday, June 30th at 6:30 PM. Fadi Elsalameen of the ImagineNations Group and Ross Kaplan of DC Internationals will present H.E. Ambassador Kawar with the Diplomatic Excellence Award for his unyielding support of the ImagineNations Group's mission to inspire positive change in society through the empowerment of youth especially in the Arab world. Ambassador Kawar is known as a prominent leader in developing Jordan's Information and Communications Technology sector. Kawar has been dedicated to advancing US-Jordanian relations and US-Arab relations through enhanced economic, cultural and educational exchanges. He is also a member of the Young Presidents Organization and is a Young Global Leader within the World Economic Forum. Ambassador Kawar will then present Khaled with the ImagineNations Group's International Cultural Achievement Award for spreading the message of peace, tolerance and coexistence, and for transcending boundaries by bridging international cultural gaps through his music and songs. Khaled, one of the Arab world's most renowned singers today, is embarking on this summer's US Peace through Music tour--a cross-cultural encounter between musical greats. This collaborative artistry between Grammy-winning producers and musicians such as Don Was, KC Porter, Elan, Walfredo Reyes Jr., Cheb i Sabbah, Freddie Revel, John Fumo, and Luis Conte is celebrated through the release of Khaled's landmark album, Ya-Rayi (My Opinion). ImagineNations(tm), a global alliance of social entrepreneurs, investors, and media, working with and for young people to inspire positive change, seeks to influence program development, particularly as related to the Millennium Development Goals. DC Internationals' mission is to bring an array of international performers to the United States, and especially to the DC community, to share the rich cultural heritages of the world. It aims to foster an appreciation of foreign cultures for the DC community through performances of renowned and rising figures.