Peace picks June 8-12

1. Water Pricing in an Age of Scarcity | Monday, June 8th | 2:00-3:30 | World Resources Institute | REGISTER TO ATTEND | From California to Karachi, climate change, population pressures, and economic growth are exacerbating water stress conditions around the world. The IMF and World Resources Institute invite you to a timely dialogue of policymakers, economists, and water resource experts on new approaches to water pricing to manage rapidly increasing risks in an efficient, equitable, and sustainable manner. A panel discussion and questions and comments from the floor will follow. Speakers include: David Lipton, Deputy Managing Director, IMF, Charles Iceland, Director, Aqueduct Project, World Resources Institute, Helen Mountford, Director of Economics, World Resources Institute, and Kalpana Kochhar, Deputy Director, Asia and Pacific Department, International Monetary Fund. Moderated by Lawrence MacDonald, Vice President for Communications, World Resources Institute.

2. Asan Seminar: “The ROK-US Alliance: Facing Missile and Nuclear Threats on the Korean Peninsula” | Monday, June 8th | 3:00-4:30 | The Asan Institute for Policy Studies | REGISTER TO ATTEND | Speakers include: Choi Kang, Vice President for Research, the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, Thomas Karako Senior Fellow, International Security Program & Director, Missile Defense Project, Center for Strategic and International Studies and Woo Jung-Yeop Research Fellow and Director, Washington, D.C. Office, the Asan Institute for Policy Studies.

3. Public Forum with Dr. Saleem Al-Jubouri, Speaker of Iraq’s Parliament | Monday, June 8th | 3:15-4:30 | United States Institute of Peace | REGISTER TO ATTEND |  Dr. Saleem Al-Jubouri will be visiting Washington to meet with U.S. officials and members of Congress at a critical time for Iraq and its international partners fighting ISIS. ISIS’ capture of Ramadi and its sabotage of the country’s largest oil refinery, at Baiji, underscore the threat the group poses to the Iraqi people and state. Amid the war, the Council of Representatives is considering legislation on topics–such as the National Guard and the federal court system–that are critical to addressing governance and security problems that gave rise to ISIS. After making public remarks, Dr. Al-Jubouri will respond to questions in a discussion moderated by USIP’s acting executive vice president, Amb. William Taylor. Opening remarks by Nancy Lindborg, the president of USIP.

4. Turkey: Parliamentary Elections and their Aftermath | Tuesday, June 9th | 9:30-11:00 | Wilson Center | REGISTER TO ATTEND | The June 7 Turkish elections are shaping up to be one of the most contested, if not critical, of recent times. At stake is whether the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) will succeed in achieving the majority it needs to initiate a process to change the constitution and transform the country into a presidential system. Participants will discuss the election results and consider how these will affect Turkish domestic and foreign policy in the months to come. Speakers include: Henri Barkey, Bernard and Bertha Cohen Professor of International Relations, Lehigh University, Steven A. Cook, Hasib J. Sabbagh Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, Council on Foreign Relations, and Gönül Tol, Founding Director, Center for Turkish Studies, Middle East Institute.

5. Breaking Down Turkey’s General Election| Tuesday, June 9th | 12:00-1:30 |Center for American Progress | REGISTER TO ATTEND | Turkey’s general election on June 7 is shaping up to be the closest in a decade. A few percentage points either way could determine if the governing AKP will secure another majority in parliament or be forced to form a coalition for the first time in its 13 years of rule. President Erdoğan’s quest to transform Turkey and strengthen its presidency also hangs in the balance. Finally, after years of increasing international concern about Turkey’s domestic political freedoms, and with the United States relying on Turkey in the effort to stabilize Iraq and Syria and combat ISIS, the outcome and conduct of the election is likely to heavily influence U.S. policy towards the region and determine the mid-term course of Turkish democracy. Welcoming remarks by Michael Werz, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress. Panelists include: Soner Cagaptay, Director, Turkish Research Program, Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Alan Makovsky, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress, Nora Fisher Onar, Transatlantic Academy Fellow, German Marshall Fund, Centre for International Studies, University of Oxford, and Suat Kınıklıoğlu, Mercator Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress.

6. Chairman’s Forum with Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba | Tuesday, June 9th | 12:30-1:30 | The Stimson Center | REGISTER TO ATTEND | Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States of America, will join Stimson Chairman Ambassador Lincoln P. Bloomfield Jr. to share his experiences and insights into U.S. foreign policy. This informal, strategic conversation will take place at the Stimson Center.

7. The Shoulder-Fired Missile Threat In The Middle East | Wednesday, June 10th | 10:00-11:30 | The Stimson Center | REGISTER TO ATTEND | Despite a decade-long international campaign to reduce the threat from man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), terrorists and insurgents continue to acquire and use these highly effective, lightweight missiles. Among the most severely affected regions are the Middle East and North Africa, where armed groups have acquired MANPADS from looted government depots and international trafficking networks. The panelists will provide an overview of illicit proliferation of MANPADS in these regions, the threat that these missiles pose to military and civilian aircraft, and prospects for mitigating this threat. Speakers include: C.J. Chivers, Reporter, The New York Times Investigations Desk & The New York Times Magazine and Matt Schroeder, Senior Researcher, Small Arms Survey. Moderated by Rachel Stohl, Senior Associate, Stimson Center.

8. Building Self-Reliance and Prosperity in Afghanistan | Thursday, June 11th | 9:30-11:00 | Atlantic Council | REGISTER TO ATTEND | Afghanistan has made enormous progress in reconstruction, development, and lifting per capita income. Despite steps taken to lay the foundation for economic stability and growth, reduce poverty, and achieve social and development objectives, political and security uncertainties weighed on economic performance in 2014. They weakened confidence and growth declined to 1.5 percent in 2014. Within this context, the IMF remains closely engaged in Afghanistan with a staff-monitored program to address vulnerabilities and help manage risks going forward, and to build self-reliance and prosperity. IMF Mission Chief Paul Ross will discuss Afghanistan’s economic prospects and challenges that must be addressed to ensure that the country continues to develop and grow its economy. Moderated by Amb. James B. Cunningham, Senior Fellow in the South Asia Center and the Zalmay Khalilzad Chair on Afghanistan, Atlantic Council.

9. Youth and Civil Society: The Missing Powers in Yemen | Thursday, June 11th | 12:00-1:00 | Wilson Center | REGISTER TO ATTEND |Mohammad Al-Shami, a youth activist and advocacy trainer from Yemen and a Leaders for Democracy Fellow at the Maxwell School of Syracuse University, will discuss the different stakeholders and positions in Yemen and review what is happening on the ground. He will also draw attention to the struggles and consequences that Yemenis face if the conflict continues without an immediate solution. In addition, Al-Shami will highlight the importance of empowering youth movements and civil society in Yemen in order to mobilize the community to promote peace.