http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/rss/14 This feed contains all new content on the Chatham House website related to Middle East. http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1238/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1238/ 12:30, 14th July 2009 - The speakers will discuss the key issues to come out after the 2009 Iranian Presidential elections. They will give analysis of the disputed election results and the subsequent impact on Iranian society - from the organised protests of the opposition, to the reaction of the government, the Guardian Council, and the Supreme Leader Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:26:57 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1232/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1232/ 08:00, 3rd July 2009 - Iraq's displaced are the world's largest group of urban refugees, and the largest refugee crisis the Middle East has witnessed since 1948. The humanitarian situation of Iraqi refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) is of great concern to UNHCR. The presence of an estimated 500,000 Iraqi refugees in Jordan imposes a heavy burden on the economy and social structure of the country, which is also host to a significant number of Palestinian refugees. The speaker will argue that Jordan needs more robust solidarity from the international community to enable it to cope with the situation. Imran Riza currently serves as representative of UNHCR to Jordan, where he oversees a large and high-profile operation of maintaining protection space and providing safety nets for Iraqi refugees. Mr Riza's career with the United Nations has involved managing refugee operations in Africa, South-East Asia, East Asia and the Middle East for UNHCR; as well as assignments with the World Food Programme and the UN Political Mission in Lebanon. For more information please contact Jessica Forsythe. Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:33:22 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/643/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/643/ Iran's elections were a monumental miscalculation and now the Islamic Republic faces the most serious crisis of authority in a generation, writes Ali Ansari in this month's The World Today. Hard liners may have overreached in their quest for democratic approval. On climate change, Bernice Lee and Antony Froggatt write that the international community is not doing enough to deviate from 'business as usual' in tackling greenhouse gas emissions. Politics is trumping science as national interests come before a concerted global effort to do something about emissions. Economist Max Watson outlines a programme of action for the Euro area where policy often lags behind events. He argues that the Euro area cannot afford to wait and see what strains emerge over the medium term; it needs stronger policy coordination now. Full contents Iran Elections: Monumental Miscalculation, Ali Ansari Democracy: Dicing With Democracy, Richard Youngs Democracy: The Quiet Democrat, Nicolas Bouchet Engaging Iran - European Lessons for America: Tempting Tehran, Riccardo Alcaro Burma: All Change or No Change?, Richard Horsey Burma: Trust the People, Maung Zarni Climate Change Politics: Dangerous Game of Dare, Bernice Lee and Antony Froggatt Russia: Strategic Loneliness, Vadim Kononenko Central Asia: Power Plays, Graeme P Hern and Katva Palazzolo Mexico - Swine Flu: Victor or Victim?, Rodrigo Delgado Aguilera The Euro and the Global Financial Crisis: Surviving Strain, Max Watson Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:49:40 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1222/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1222/ 16:30, 2nd July 2009 - The speaker will argue that Arafat's dream of Palestine is still only a dream after 21 years of peace talks and wars. He will argue that Benjamin Netanyahu and his followers have prevented the possibility of any peace agreements between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Abu Sharif will discuss options available to the Palestinians, the Israelis, the US and the EU, and the Arab States, taking each in turn, as he discusses what is neccessary from all sides to make peace. For more information please contact Members Events Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:04:45 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1221/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1221/ 12:30, 2nd July 2009 - Dr Alon Ben-Meir, an expert on Middle East politics and affairs, specializing in negotiations between Israel and the Arab States, will speak in detail on the prospects for a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace deal. He will address the timely opportunity found in the new Netanyahu and Obama governments, and how the international community can assist these efforts. For more information please contact Members Events Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:54:20 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/630/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/630/ A survey of Iran's election results, published today by Chatham House and the University of St Andrews, raises serious questions about the plausibility of the claimed victory and demonstrates irregularities in the official results. Even the official statistics - obtained from the Ministry of the Interior - indicate that: votes cast exceeded the number of eligible voters in two provinces claims that Ahmadinejad swept the board in rural provinces flies in the face of previous results The plausibility of Mr Ahmadinejad's claimed victory is called into question by figures that show that in several provinces he would have had to attract the votes of all new voters, all the votes of his former centrist opponent, and up to 44% of those who voted for reformist candidates in 2005. Irregularities are found in conservative Mazandaran and Yazd provinces where votes cast exceeded the number of eligible voters. Professor Ali Ansari said: 'The analysis shows that the scale of the swing to Ahmadinejad would have had to have been extraordinary to achieve the stated result'. Thomas Rintoul said: 'The claimed results in minority provinces are particularity extreme, the numbers from Ilam, Lorestan and Hormozegan almost defy belief'. Read paper >> Details Preliminary Analysis of the Voting Figures in Iran's 2009 Presidential Election Paper published by Chatham House and the Institute of Iranian Studies, University of St Andrews. Editor: Professor Ali Ansari, Director, Institute of Iranian Studies, University of St Andrews; Associate Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House. Research and analysis: Daniel Berman and Thomas Rintoul, Institute of Iranian Studies, University of St Andrews. Contact For press commentary: Professor Ali AnsariInstitute of Iranian Studies, University of St Andrews/Chatham House, and author of 'Iran, Islam and Democracy: The Politics of Managing Change'. +44 (0)7595 393 785 Thomas Rintoul Institute of Iranian Studies, University of St Andrews +44 (0)7590 364 630 Press Office: Keith Burnet Communciations Director, Chatham House +44 (0)20 7314 2798 / +44 (0)7714 200 920 Sara Karnas Press Office, Chatham House +44 (0)20 7314 2787 / +44 (0)7958 669 785 ENDS Sun, 21 Jun 2009 14:10:24 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/755/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/755/ Working from the province by province breakdowns of the 2009 and 2005 results, released by the Iranian Ministry of Interior, and from the 2006 census as published by the official Statistical Centre of Iran, this paper offers some observations about the official data and the debates surrounding the 2009 Iranian Presidential Election. Paper Dissemination The New York Times, Answering Your Iran Questions, 26 June 2009 BBC News, Iran: Where Did All the Votes Come From?, 23 June 2009 Fox News, Iran Guardian Council Rules Out New Election, 23 June 2009 The Guardian, Magic Numbers, 22 June 2009 The Daily Telegraph, Mousavi Urges More Protests as Iran's Hardline Leadership Arrests Opposition Member's Family, 22 June 2009 The Times, Claims of Vote-Rigging in Iran Backed by British Academics' Analysis, 22 June 2009 The Wall Street Journal, Heavy Security Reins in Iranian Protests, 22 June 2009 Los Angeles Times, Iran: Independent Study Finds Irregularities in Election Results, 22 June 2009 CNN, Survey Raises Questions About Iran Vote Results, 21 June 2009 The New York Times, Unrest in Iran Sharply Deepens Rift Among Clerics, 21 June 2009 The Financial Times, Tensions Deepen as UK Rebuffs Tehran Claims, 21 June 2009 Huffington Post, Iran Election Live-Blogging, 21 June 2009 The Guardian, Iran in Turmoil: Live, 21 June 2009 The New York Times, Updates on Iran's Turmoil, 21 June 2009 Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:32:44 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1213/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1213/ 16:30, 22nd June 2009 - Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, now numbering over 400,000, live in the worst conditions in the Middle East, with the highest rate of hardship cases registered with UNRWA in their fields of operation. The discriminatory policies in Lebanon restricting Palestinian refugees' right to work have for decades contributed to increasingly high levels of poverty and exacerbated an already difficult socio-economic situation. Leila el-Ali will discuss the findings of a new report by Association Najdeh on the contribution of Palestinian refugees to the Lebanese economy. Notably, the report shows that Palestinian refugees, now comprising 10 percent of the total population of Lebanon, have contributed positively to the Lebanese economy over the six decades they have been hosted there. Association Najdeh is a Christian Aid partner in Lebanon and works in and around the Palestinian refugee camps. For more information, please contact Kate Nevens. Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:45:15 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/624/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/624/ Ginny Hill, author of the Chatham House paper Yemen: Fear of Failure says: 'Al-Qaeda and its affiliates in Yemen have been responsible for the deaths of 14 tourists in the last two years. Spanish, Belgian and South Korean nationals have died in suicide attacks and gunfire on tourist groups. But the calculated execution of captive hostages would represent a new and chilling tactic, and confirm fears that al-Qaeda's capacity and ambition in Yemen are increasing. Nine foreigners were abducted at the weekend in a remote mountainous area near to the Saudi border. Since 2004, the Saada region has endured sporadic civil war between Yemeni security forces and local rebels, and media access is tightly restricted. We still don't have a reliable picture about the fate of the hostages. If any of the hostages has been executed, as several reports now suggest, if would mark a new phase in the pattern of violence towards foreigners. Local rebels in the Saada region have not taken foreign hostages before, and they deny any involvement in the kidnapping. Yemeni tribes have a long history of kidnapping foreigners to extract concessions from the central government - but these 'bargaining chips' are almost always released unharmed. Al-Qaeda and its affiliates in Yemen have been responsible for the deaths of 14 tourists in the last two years. Spanish, Belgian and South Korean nationals have died in suicide attacks and gunfire on tourist groups. But the calculated execution of captive hostages would represent a new and chilling tactic, and confirm fears that al-Qaeda's capacity and ambition in Yemen are increasing.' Notes to Editors: Read Yemen: Fear of Failure >> Ginny Hill is available for comment: Ginny Hill, +44 (0)7779 790 356 ginny.uk@gmail.com Nicola Norton, Media Relations Manager, +44 20 7957 5739 Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:09:56 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1194/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1194/ 16:30, 8th June 2009 - The speakers will examine the outcome of the June 7 Lebanese Parliamentary elections, and what this may mean for the future of Hezbollah. They will look at the broader impact of these elections on the regional balance of power, in particular the relationship between Iran and the US. Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:07:05 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1190/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1190/ 10:00, 9th June 2009 - It is generally assumed that elections in the Southern Mediterranean largely lack credibility, that they are managed events used by political elites to gain as much political legitimacy with as little challenges to the status quo as possible. This assumption is not wrong, but it is too simplistic. By presenting their findings of a six-month research project, the speakers will address this assumption as well as look at potential roles for the EU in promoting electoral reform agendas. To support electoral processes successfully, it will be argued that strategies need to be built on an analysis of each country in question. This event is jointly organized with the EuroMeSCo Secretariat. THIS EVENT IS FULL. REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED. For more information please contact the Middle East and North Africa Programme. Fri, 29 May 2009 17:09:20 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/606/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/606/ In this month's issue, Dr David Heymann, Head of Chatham House's new Centre on Global Health Security, and formerly Assistant Director-General at the World Health Organization, traces the means of managing the risks of influenza and outlines today's challenges for practitioners to identify emerging infections such as swine flu. Prem Shankar Jha, columnist and former editor, The Hindustan Times, argues that the Obama administration must understand that there will be no peace settlement in Afghanistan if India is left out of the process. And Kerry Brown, Senior Research Fellow, Chatham House, writes on how China is rising again but faces a major task in communicating what it calls its 'benign objectives and intentions' to the rest of the world. Full list of contents: Afghanistan and Pakistan: Obama's Quagmire, Prem Shankar Jha Afghanistan and Pakistan: Taliban Toxin, Wolfgang Danspeckgruber and William Maley Health: Preparing for Pandemics, David L Heymann Health - China and Russia: Life Support, Christopher Davis Group of Eight - Aid in Africa: Party Over, Tom Cargill Group of Eight: Thinking, Not Talking, Alex Vines China: Rising Again, Kerry Brown Coal and Climate Change: Electrifying Issue, Michael Hogan Coal and Climate Change: Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Jon Gibbins Europe: Jobs for the Boys, Richard Whitman Thu, 21 May 2009 15:51:04 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1157/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1157/ 08:00, 11th May 2009 - Mr Kiniklioglu will provide an overview of the Justice and Development Party's (AK Party's) foreign policy outlook, including Turkey's relations with the Middle East and the Caucasus. Mr Kiniklioglu will also offer insights into domestic political trends in Turkey. Suat Kiniklioglu is the AK Party Deputy Chairman for External Affairs, spokesman for the parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, and Chairman of the Turkish-British Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group. He was the Executive Director of the German Marshall Fund's Ankara office between 2005-07. For more information please contact Nina Assauer. Thu, 07 May 2009 12:36:35 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1156/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1156/ 11:00, 19th May 2009 - Minister Kyprianou will reflect on Cyprus's five years of EU membership and discuss its regional role, including relations with Turkey and the Middle East. The minister will contend that Cyprus has the capacity to contribute to the political, social and economic development of the region. He will further argue that Cyprus has the potential to act as a strategic corridor between the Eastern and Southern Mediterranean with benefits for the EU as a whole. Markos Kyprianou was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in March 2008. He was formerly a member of the European Commission between 2004-8, and Cyprus's Finance Minister between 2003-4. The talk will be on the record and the Q&A will be held under the Chatham House Rule. For more information please contact Nina Assauer. More information about work on Europe >> Wed, 06 May 2009 14:11:58 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/738/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/738/ This is a summary of a meeting held at Chatham House on 12 February 2009 with Professor Gary Sick, Professor of International Affairs, Columbia University and Director, Gulf2000 Network. Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:13:17 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1144/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1144/ 12:30, 11th May 2009 - The speaker will argue that neither counterterrorism nor traditional counterinsurgency is the appropriate framework to fight the enemy that the US and its allies now face. He will describe how stateless insurgents and terrorists are operating across a large number of countries and are only loosely affiliated with each other. He will review the problems the US has faced in applying different tactics to different situations, and suggest that insurgents with limited aims and legitimate grievances have been regularly misidentified as part of a coordinated worldwide network. The speaker was part of the small team that designed the 'Surge' in Iraq where he then spent a tour directing counterinsurgency programmes and providing hands-on advice to military, diplomatic, aid and intelligence agencies. For further information, please contact Members Events. Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:18:27 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1142/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1142/ 13:00, 13th May 2009 - The seminar will examine both Russia's external relations with the countries of the Middle East, and the evolving role of Islam within the Russian Federation itself, with a particular focus on the North Caucasus. Alexander Pikayev is a leading specialist on the Iranian nuclear question but will also address other aspects of Russian policy towards the Middle East. Ruslan Kurbanov is a specialist on the dynamics of radicalisation in the North Caucasus and will also discuss more general challenges facing Muslims in Russia. Attendance at this event is strictly by invitation only. For more information please contact Alex Nice. Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:36:22 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/580/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/580/ Climate of Change? Ahead of the Copenhagen summit in December, this month's The World Today looks at how China, Russia and Brazil are preparing for a post-Kyoto climate change agreement. Linda Jakobson, Senior Researcher, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, writes on the delicate balancing act the Chinese government are pursuing: while some Chinese leaders are adamant that combating climate change must not deter economic development, they are also keen to show they are willing to shoulder international responsibilities in line with the status of a rising power. However, the view that China is a victim of climate change, rather than a country to be held responsible for it, is shared across the party. Looking ahead to Iran's presidential elections, Ali Ansari, Associate Fellow, writes that the faltering economy will be a key issue, but with political comebacks beckoning and harsh criticisms of Ahmadinejad by potential candidates rife, one thing stands out: everyone is arguing about the need for change. And, Tony Elumelu, Chief Executive, United Bank for Africa, writes on how in a world of largely negative economic growth, African stocks and shares are showing strong results. But Africa needs to get the message across that it is a continent of growing economies, with institutions and entrepreneurs willing to play important roles in providing solutions to the economic crisis. Full list of contents: Climate Change: China's Changing Climate, Linda Jakobson Russia and Climate Change: Costs or Benefits?, Anna Korppoo Brazil and Climate Change: Global Positioning, Paulo Wrobel Moldova: Question of Power, James Sherr Global Economc Crisis: Crunching Eastern Europe, Sean Hanley European Elections: Big Yawn, or Wake-Up Call?, Julie Smith Europe's Eastern Partnership: Between Europe and Russia, Georgy Bovt Council of Europe: Conscience of a Continent, Martyn Bond The Global Economic Crisis and Africa, Tony Elumelu Iranian Presidential Elections: Ghost at the Election Banquet, Ali Ansari Lebanon Elections: Into the Shadows, Hussain Abdul-Hussain Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:23:36 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/732/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/732/ North Africa may not be as stable as it looks: socio-economic and political pressures are fracturing the consensus between governments and governed and may overtake terrorism and criminality as the region's main destabilizing forces. With political leadership in the region effectively a lifelong position, the growth of authoritarianism is undermining the prospects for achieving political and economic liberalization. Despite the worsening global economic climate, a window of opportunity exists to accelerate socially sensitive and productive domestic investment and open space for greater autonomous political and economic development. Success depends on renegotiating the social contracts on which North Africa's states are based. A broadening of participation, above all through the extension of legal employment, targeted investment on education, health and skills, and the establishment of independent legal and regulatory frameworks, will go some way towards addressing socio-economic stresses. A change in the political environment, however, requires a re-evaluation of how the region's security climate is seen from outside, with adjustments in the kind of support given to regional governments by its key international partners, the European Union and the United States. Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:57:57 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1134/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1134/ 15:00, 21st April 2009 - The Democratic Society Party (DTP) is the fourth largest political group in the Turkish Parliament with 22 members. Ahmet Türk will discuss the outcomes of the recent elections where the DTP performed well, increasing its share of the vote in the predominantly Kurdish southeast, including notably in Diyarbakir. Mr Türk began his career in Turkish politics in 1973 as a mayor of Mardin and first entered parliament in 1991. Mr Türk has founded and led a succession of pro-Kurdish political parties. He was first elected president of the DTP in 2005 and is currently a member of the Turkish Parliament. Attendance at this event is strictly by invitation only. THIS MEETING IS FULL, REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED. For more information please contact the Middle East and North Africa Programme. Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:09:35 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/546/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/546/ Prime Minister Gordon Brown should offer to give up Britain's single seat on the International Monetary Fund (IMF) at the London summit as part of a fundamental consolidation of European representation on the Fund. By making this radical offer, Britain would demonstrate strong leadership on the need to reform the governance of the international financial system. It would also serve as a critical signal for immediate action by the G20 leaders to kick-start the world economy and make this summit a success. This is one of the recommendations contained in a new report, New Ideas for the London Summit: Recommendations to the G20 Leaders. The report is a joint partnership between Chatham House and The Atlantic Council of the United States which seeks to build transatlantic consensus on the summit agenda. Its recommendations are drawn from 20 papers by European and American specialists. Its overall conclusion is that G20 leaders should commit to two sets of actions at the London summit - those that will have an immediate effect on stemming the global financial and economic crisis and those that will have a longer-term structural impact. Key recommendations include: Actions for immediate impact to deal with the crisis First, rather than recommending one-size-fits-all fiscal stimulus packages, G20 leaders need to agree on how they will share the burden of the stimulus. Each national plan must be cast in a credible medium-term framework as well as having an immediate impact. Second, the US and other G20 leaders need to follow the example of Japan and the EU and provide credit lines that will immediately increase IMF lending facilities to help the most vulnerable countries deal with the crisis. Third, reject all forms of protectionism by committing to a twelve-month freeze on new protectionist measures, including those that are WTO-legal. Actions for medium and long-term impact Fourth, strengthen the international financial and regulatory architecture by agreeing to improve supervision and rules for all financial institutions and instruments, including credit derivatives and other structured investment vehicles. This regulation must be appropriate and correctly targeted. Fifth, a major increase in the IMF's financing capacity is necessary, and must be accompanied by reform of the IMF's governance to increase the voting weight and representation of emerging economies. Sixth, in order to address long-term economic imbalances, set up a 'caucus on currency misalignments' within the G20 that would include China, Japan, the euro-zone and the US, with two rotating seats for G20 countries with the largest accumulation of foreign exchange reserves. NOTES TO EDITORS Read New Ideas for the London Summit: Recommendations to the G20 Leaders >> Read Executive Summary >> EVENT Wednesday 1 April 2009 09:30 to 11:00 The London Summit: Multiple Perspectives on the G20 Dr Youssef Boutros-Ghali, Minister of Finance, Egypt; Chairman, International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) Lord Malloch-Brown, Prime Minister's Special Envoy for the G20 London Summit Stephen Roach, Chairman, Morgan Stanley Asia Dr Paola Subacchi, Research Director, International Economics, Chatham House Chair: Dr Robin Niblett, Director, Chatham House For media enquiries, please contact Nicola Norton: +44 (0)20 7957 5739 +44 (0)79 1775 7528 ENDS Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:21:31 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1116/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1116/ 08:00, 3rd April 2009 - The Prime Minister will discuss the global economic crisis and its effects on Turkey and will outline measures taken by the government to overcome the present crisis. HE Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been Prime Minister of Turkey since March 2003. The Prime Minister spoke in Turkish. The audio translation is available below. Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:45:42 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1112/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1112/ 16:30, 16th April 2009 - The speaker will discuss the influential role of Islamist movements in the wider Middle East. He will argue for a strategy of increased engagement - that Islamist groups cannot be shut out and therefore need to be made part of the solution, in ways that build institutions, spread the rule of law and strengthen representative government. Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:03:38 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1111/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1111/ 12:30, 16th April 2009 - More than a third of the detainees at the US Detention Facility at Guantánamo Bay are Yemeni. Other countries, notably Saudi Arabia, have repatriated some of their nationals but Yemen has been unable to provide sufficiently firm security guarantees to satisfy the US government; hence the tricky question of the Yemeni detainees remains unresolved. Saudi Arabia's experience of counter-terrorism and deprogramming may prove valuable. The speakers will discuss this situation and explore the links between Yemen and Saudi Arabia through the growing presence of Saudi jihadis in Yemen, which reflects the increasingly transnational nature of Al-Qaeda networks in the Arabian peninsula. Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:58:30 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1105/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1105/ 08:30, 1st April 2009 - With economies around the world at a critical moment, expectations for the London Summit on 2 April are running high. However, there is a limit to what the G20 can realistically achieve. A panel of experts will ask what the leaders' key priorities should be - boosting demand, halting protectionism, reforming the IMF or agreeing new rules for international financial regulation? The event will mark the launch of the Chatham House-Atlantic Council report: New Ideas for the London Summit: Recommendations to the G20 Leaders. For more information please contact Members Events. Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:00:34 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1100/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1100/ 16:00, 18th March 2009 - DUE TO UNFORESEEABLE CIRCUMSTANCES THIS MEETING HAS BEEN CANCELLED. Minister Shaaban will reflect on recent US political moves towards engagement with actors in the Middle East. She will also clarify Syria's position regarding the restitution of Syrian territory and the establishment of a Palestinian state and explore how Israel can be better integrated in the Middle East. Minister Bouthaina Shaaban, is Political and Media Advisor at the Presidency, and former Minister of Expatriates in Syria. She has served in the Syrian government in different capacities for twenty years, and has been a professor at Damascus University since 1985. Before assuming her current ministerial position, Dr Shaaban was Director of the Foreign Media Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Syria and spokesperson for Syria. Dr Shaaban holds a PhD in English Literature from the University of Warwick. Attendance at this event is strictly by invitation only. For more information please contact the Middle East and North Africa Programme. Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:47:35 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1097/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1097/ 13:30, 25th March 2009 - Mr Saad Hariri, leader of the parliamentary majority in Lebanon, will reflect on two landmark events which will determine the future of democracy in Lebanon and impact on political developments in the region. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon, set up in The Hague on 1 March, marks the beginning of a process of accountability for the 'politics by assassination' that has plagued the country, especially since the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. Parliamentary elections in June will be a turning point in the development of an independent, democratic and liberal Lebanon and a test for the survival of moderation in the Middle East. Thu, 05 Mar 2009 15:15:03 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1094/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1094/ 11:00, 12th March 2009 - At a critical time for the development of Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, the speaker will explore the prospect for peaceful progress and the resolution of key issues within Iraq, Kurdistan and the wider region. HE Masoud Barzani was elected the first president of the Kurdistan Region by the Kurdistan National Assembly in June 2005 and has been leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party since 1979. For more information please contact: membersevents@chathamhouse.org.uk Thu, 05 Mar 2009 11:52:09 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1093/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1093/ 08:00, 12th March 2009 - Registration and coffee will be available from 07:30. Diplomacy is one of the world's oldest professions but in today's world of high speed global communications, do we still need diplomats? The speaker will discuss the role of diplomats and foreign ministries in the twenty-first century and consider what they need to be doing differently in order to succeed. This meeting is held in association with the Young Diplomats in London. For more information please contact Charmaine Monteiro. Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:12:32 +0000 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/515/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/515/ We are pleased to announce the nominees for the 2009 Chatham House Prize. The nominees are: Prince Saud Al-Faisal Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia HE Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil The Chatham House Prize is awarded to the statesperson deemed to have made the most significant contribution to the improvement of international relations in the previous year. The winner will be announced later this year and will be presented with the crystal award. The award ceremony will take place in the autumn at a City of London venue. More about the nominees >> About the Chatham House Prize The selection process for the nominees draws on the expertise of Chatham House's research teams and three presidents - Lord Ashdown, Lord Hurd and Lord Robertson. Our members are then invited to vote for the winner in a ballot. The winner will be announced later this year. The winner is presented with a crystal award and a scroll signed by our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen at an award ceremony in the City of London in early autumn, with keynote speeches by leading figures in international affairs. Previous winners include: President John Kufuor of Ghana (2008), HH Sheikha Mozah, Chairperson, Qatar Foundation (2007), HE Joaquim Chissano, former President of Mozambique (2006) and HE President Victor Yushchenko of Ukraine (2005). More about the Prize and previous winners >> Contact Nicola Norton, Media Relations Manager +44 (0)20 7957 5739 +44 (0)79 1775 7528 nnorton@chathamhouse.org.uk Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:45:36 +0000