Akouri Makes Surprise Visit to AAI Dearborn Conference

Dearborn, Michigan: (l-r) Michael Hare, Legislative Assistant to Congressman Charles Boustany (R-LA); Councilman John Akouri; John Faddoul, Chairman of Kataeb North America & Representative of Fmr. Lebanese President Amine Gemayel; Mrs. Abou-Chedid, mother to Rebecca Abou-Chedid, AAI National Political Director

DEARBORN - Just hours after a luncheon he hosted in honor of US Representative Charles Boustany, Jr. of Louisiana, Councilman John Akouri made a surprise stop this evening at the Arab American Institute National Leadership Conference. Akouri, who served as Capitol Hill Senior Advisor to former Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the District of Columbia, US Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), arrived to an enthusiastic crowd assembled at the Byblos Banquet Centre. Akouri posed for several photos and met briefly with US Senator John Sununu (R-NH), former New Jersey Congressional Candidate George Ajjan, and AAI Co-Chairman George Salem, Esq., before having to depart. Though Akouri had planned to do an interview with Greg Krupa of The Detroit News regarding the conference which was delayed due to scheduling, he had an opportunity to meet with the reporter in person at the Lebanese-owned banquet hall.