Delegates from Najaf, Iraq to visit Minneapolis

Delegates from Najaf, Iraq will visit Minneapolis this month, as part of the newly established "sister city" relationship between the two cities.

The 14-person delegation marks the first official visit since the Minneapolis City Council approved the sister city relationship in July.

The visitors plan to meet with University of Minnesota professors, local government officials, and business leaders during their Sept. 18 to Oct. 2 trip. The group will also tour notable sights in the Twin Cities and attend cultural events.

The Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project, the Minneapolis Convention and Visitors Association, the University of Minnesota, and Friends for a Nonviolent World will host the delegation.

The visit will also highlight the Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project's program to supply water filtration systems to Najaf schools and hospitals. The University of Minnesota plans to host a public event on Sept. 30 to provide information about the donation program and the scarcity of clean water in Najaf.

Minneapolis is the 10th U.S. city to establish sister-city relations with an Iraqi city.

A full schedule of public visits is available at the Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project's Web site.