Category: Sophie Lobanov-Rostovsky
Peace Picks November 10-16
Beirut 1958: How America’s Wars in the Middle East Began|November 13, 2019|10:00AM-11:30AM|Brookings Institution|Falk Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC, 20036|Register Here
On July 15, 1958, U.S. Marines assaulted the beach in Beirut, Lebanon. The amphibious attack was the first combat operation in the Middle East by American troops. It followed months of intrigue, espionage and conspiracy leading to a bloody coup in Baghdad, Iraq the day before the Marines landed. Now more than 60 years later, the United States is engaged in multiple combat operations across the region — seemingly endless wars.
In his new book, “Beirut 1958,” Senior Fellow Bruce Riedel tells the story of the mission and draws lessons on how to better deal with future challenges in the region. Please join the Center for Middle East Policy on Wednesday, November 13 for the launch of “Beirut 1958,” featuring a discussion with Riedel, moderated by Senior Fellow Suzanne Maloney. Following the discussion, the participants will take questions from the audience.
The Middle East in 2020 – What Are the Pathways to Stability?|November 13, 2019|9:30AM-4:00PM|Middle East Institute|JW Marriott Washington DC|1331 Pennsylvania Ave NW|Washington DC 20004|Register Here
The conference will feature a series of panels, one-on-one conversations, and a debate examining key priorities for reducing threats and building long-term stability in the MENA region given rising tensions and an increasingly unpredictable environment.
9:00-9:30am | Arrival and Registration
9:30-9:35am | Welcome Remarks
Paul Salem
President, MEI
9:40-10:00am | Keynote Address: General (ret.) Joseph Votel on U.S. Middle East Priorities
10:00-11:00am | Panel: Are there Pathways to De-escalation in the Middle East?
H.E. Mohammed Baharoon
Director General, b’huth
LTG. (ret.) Michael Nagata
Former director of Strategic Operational Planning, National Counterterrorism Center; Hanada Bridge, LLC
Randa Slim
Senior fellow and director, conflict resolution and Track II Dialogues, MEI
Gonul Tol
Director, Turkish studies, MEI
Muna Shikaki, moderator
Correspondent, Al Arabiya
11:00am-11:15am | Coffee Break
11:15am-11:45am | Debate: How Will the Next Administration Confront Challenges and Meet Opportunities in the Middle East?
The Honorable Jim Moran
Former member of Congress, Virginia’s 8th Congressional District
Michael Pregent
Senior fellow, Hudson Institute
Randa Slim, moderator
Senior fellow and director, conflict resolution and Track II Dialogues, MEI
11:50am-12:20pm | Panel: How Can MENA Countries Reduce the Threat of Cyber Attacks?
Steph Shample
Senior analyst, Flashpoint
Edwin Wilson
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Cyber Security
Richard A. Clarke, moderator
Chairman, Board of Governors, MEI
12:20-1:00pm | Lunch buffet
1:00-1:50pm | Panel: How is the Middle East Engaging with the Broader World?
H.E. David Bakradze
Ambassador of the Republic of Georgia to the United States
Intissar Fakir
Fellow, Middle East program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Deborah Lehr
Vice Chairman and Executive Director, Paulson Institute
Aparna Pande
Director, Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia, Hudson Institute
David Lawler, moderator
Editor, Axios World Stream
1:55-2:45pm | Panel: What are the Key Economic Challenges Facing the Middle East in 2020?
Jihad Azour
Director, Middle East and Central Asia, International Monetary Fund
Herman Franssen
Scholar, MEI
Habib Kairouz
Managing partner, Rho Partners
Delila Khaled
Senior advisor, Laurel Strategies
Adva Saldinger, moderator
Associate editor, Devex
2:45-3:00pm | Coffee Break
3:00pm-3:50pm | Panel: How are Arab Youth Innovating and Mobilizing for Change?
Sami Hourani
Founder and CEO, Forsa for Education
Joyce Karam
Corresponent, The National UAE
Shady Khalil
Managing partner, Greenish
Yasmeen Mjalli
Founder, BabyFist
Dina Sherif, moderator
Founder and CEO, Ahead of the Curve
4:00pm | Closing Remarks
2019 Czech and Slovak Freedom Lecture: 30 Years of Czech and Slovak Freedom|November 13, 2019|12:00PM-1:30PM|Woodrow Wilson Center|6th Floor, Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC 20004|Register Here
This year‘s Freedom Lecture is co-hosted by the Embassy of the Czech Republic and the Embassy of the Slovak Republic. Both a Czech and a Slovak speaker are featured in order to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, which saw the return of freedom and democracy to both countries on November 17, 1989.
Speakers
Introduction
- Ivan Korčok Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Republic to the United States
- Hynek Kmoníček Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to the United States
Keynote
- Katarína Cséfalvayová Chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, National Council of the Slovak Republic
- Simon Pánek Former Czech student activist during the Velvet Revolution in 1989; Executive Director and Co-Founder of the largest Czech humanitarian organization, People in Need
Moderator
- Blair A. Ruble Distinguished FellowFormer Wilson Center Vice President for Programs (2014-2017); Director of the Comparative Urban Studies Program/Urban Sustainability Laboratory (1992-2017); Director of the Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies (1989-2012) and Director of the Program on Global Sustainability and Resilience (2012-2014)
Understanding the New Wave of Arab Protests: An Expert Panel|November 14, 2019|10:30AM-12:00PM|Woodrow Wilson Center|6th Floor, Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC 20004|Register Here
A new series of protests and demonstrations has erupted across the Middle East and North Africa over the past 9 months. In Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan, Algeria, Jordan, and Egypt, these protests were largely triggered by dire socio-economic conditions, corruption and a sense of economic and political disenfranchisement with outright calls for regime change in the case of Algeria, Sudan, and very recently in Lebanon.
Join our discussion with a panel of Wilson and regional experts to analyze these events and understand difference and similarities between the present wave of protests and those that erupted in 2011.
Speakers
Introduction
- Merissa Khurma Project Manager, Middle East Special Initiatives
Moderator
- David Ottaway Middle East FellowMiddle East Specialist and Former Washington Post Correspondent
Panelists
- Rend Al-Rahim Co-founder and President of the Iraq Foundation
- Marina Ottaway Middle East Fellow and Former Senior Research Associate and Head of the Middle East Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- Hussain Abdul-Hussain Washington Bureau Chief, Al Rai Newspaper
Protests in Chile: The Path Forward|November 14, 2019|12:00PM-1:00PM|Woodrow Wilson Center|6th Floor, Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington DC 20004|Register Here
Since mid-October, Chile has been rocked by massive protests—some marked by extreme violence, but the vast majority of them peaceful and historic in numbers. Triggered by an increase in subway fares, the protests have laid bare deep inequalities and frustration over unmet needs in one of Latin America’s most prosperous countries. The government of President Sebastián Piñera has called for a dialogue with opposition parties over measures to address the crisis. Talks are ongoing.
Please join us for a discussion with noted Chilean experts over the underlying causes of unrest and, just as important, the path forward. Will the dialogue between the government and the opposition parties be successful? What reforms are on the table? Are there grounds for consensus, and if so, over what? How quickly will the legislature respond to measures introduced by the government or the opposition? How best can constitutional issues be addressed? How will the government address future challenges to public order in the midst of widespread criticism over human rights abuses committed by government forces?
Speakers
Moderator
- Cynthia J. Arnson Director, Latin American Program
Speakers
- Felipe Agüero FellowAssociate Professor, Department of International Studies, University of Miami
- Lucía Dammert Global FellowAssociate Professor, Universidad de Santiago de Chile; Expert on public security issues in Latin America
A Conversation with First Lady of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Rula Ghani: How to Protect Afghan Women’s Rights and Build Consensus for Peace|November 14, 2019|10:00AM-11:30AM|United States Institute of Peace|2301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC 20037|Register Here
To explore the importance of Afghan women in building a sustainable peace process, H.E. First Lady Rula Ghani will join USIP for a timely discussion on her role in the Afghan Women’s National Consensus for Peace (Ejma-e-Mili), as well as other current events on peace, security, and governance in Afghanistan. Following a keynote address by the First Lady, there will be a moderated question and answer session.
Speakers
H.E Rula Ghani
First Lady of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
Nancy Lindborg, moderator
President and CEO, U.S Institute of Peace
Ending Endless War: Lessons from the Counter-ISIS War|November 15, 2019|12:15PM-1:45PM|New America|740 15th St NW #900, Washington DC 20005|Register Here
In December 2011, the last American combat troops left Iraq. The Obama administration celebrated the withdrawal as the completion of a campaign promise to end the Iraq war. Fewer than three years later, the same administration returned the U.S. to war in Iraq to fight ISIS and then extended the war into Syria. In his new report, Decisionmaking in the Counter-ISIS War, New America Senior Policy Analyst David Sterman examines how the United States returned to war in Iraq, the role of preventive war logic in that decision, and what lessons the counter-ISIS war holds for efforts to end America’s seemingly endless counter-terrorism wars.
To discuss the report, New America welcomes Dr. Joshua Geltzer, a New America International Security program fellow and former senior director for counter-terrorism at the National Security Council, and Dr. Alexandra Stark, senior researcher with New America’s Political Reform program. Dr. Stark holds a PhD from the government department at Georgetown University. She was previously a research fellow at the Middle East Initiative of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, and Minerva/Jennings Randolph Peace Scholar at the United States Institute of Peace.
Participants:
David Sterman, @Dsterms
Author, Decisionmaking in the Counter-ISIS War
Senior Policy Analyst, New America International Security program
Dr. Joshua Geltzer, @jgeltzer
Fellow, New America International Security program
Former Senior Director for Counter-Terrorism, National Security Council
Dr. Alexandra Stark
Senior Researcher, New America Political Reform program
Moderator:
Melissa Salyk-Virk
Senior Policy Analyst, New America International Security program
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Good election, big challenges
On October 29 the Middle East Institute (MEI) and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) hosted an event entitled “Observations from the Tunisian Election.” Tunisian Ambassador Fayçal Gouia delivered the opening remarks and participated in the panel discussion. Georgetown Professor and North Africa specialist William Lawrence moderated the discussion. Panelists included Jeffrey England, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa program at the National Democratic Institute (NDI), Patricia Karam, Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa division of the International Republican Institute (IRI), Sarah Yerkes, Middle East Fellow at the Carnegie Institute for International Peace, and Thomas Hill, senior program officer for North Africa at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP).
England emphasized that the joint election observation undertaken by NDI and IRI demonstrated several positive aspects of the Tunisian election. Despite the fact that the July 25 death of former President Essebsi required the election to be held sooner than originally planned, it was peaceful and administered professionally. England also highlighted that the Parliamentary and Presidential debates that were held for the first time are evidence that the democratic system continues to mature. He noted that while there are lingering questions about turnout in the election, there was a larger pool of voters in both rounds than expected. England felt that because President Kais Saied does not belong to a political party he may be better able to hold the parties in Parliament to account.
Karam agreed that the election observation demonstrated several positive developments but noted that Tunisia should amend several aspects of its electoral framework prior to the next election, including campaign finance regulations, media rules, and the interaction between the judicial and electoral systems. Polling shows a crisis of confidence in politicians, growing dissatisfaction with the democratic experiment, and the sense that Tunisian political parties lack a clear vision for economic reform. This dissatisfaction is particularly deep among Tunisian youth, with preliminary data showing that youth turnout in the election may have been as low as 16%. Karam believes Tunisians voted for Saied because they prioritized stability in government, even if it comes with older, more conservative ideas.
Yerkes argued that while Saied received 70% of the votes, giving him a strong mandate, the incarceration of his opponent Karoui during the election was a significant flaw in the democratic process. She believes the election was unquestionably free but does not think it was fair. Karoui’s incarceration highlighted the need for Tunisia to implement a system for absentee voting. The electoral law allows prisoners to vote but there is currently no mechanism for them to do so, meaning that Karoui was unable to vote for himself.
Several panelists agreed that Tunisia’s economy was the key issue in this election and will play a key role in the future of its democracy. Gouia stated that job creation and delivering economic reform will be the first priority of the new administration. England asserted that while the electorate’s main concern was revolution in 2011 and identity in 2014, now people want to see results, particularly on economic issues. Hill argued that the Tunisian social contract has shifted so that graduates expect the government to create jobs for them rather than being entrepreneurial. England agreed, stating that the economic problems cannot be solved before the next election. He felt that the government should focus on developing a long-term plan to reform the economy and attempt to reframe the people’s expectations so that they understand that economic change will take time.
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Peace Picks October 28-November 3
Africa in Transition: The Role of Women in Peace and Security|October 29, 2019|9:30am-11:30am|Wilson Center|1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004 |Register Here
The prosperity of a nation cannot be divorced from the prosperity of its women. In sub-Saharan Africa, demographic trends, including rapid population growth and urbanization, ethnic tensions, and environmental degradation and climate change represent some of the compound security risks facing the region. A multisector and integrated approach that is inclusive of women is a precondition to curbing the underlying trends influencing instability in the region. When women are involved in security decision-making, the likelihood for conflict decreases, and peace negotiations last longer.
Please join the Wilson Center’s Environmental Change and Security Program and Maternal Health Initiative, in partnership with The Population Institute, to discuss holistic approaches to complex security challenges in sub-Saharan Africa at the third public event in our three-part series, Africa in Transition.
Speakers
Moderator: Monde Muyangwa, Africa Program Director
Ambassador (ret.) Phillip Carter III, President, Mead Hill Group, LLC; former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea
Chantal de Jonge Oudraat , President, Women in International Security (WIIS)
Alex Ezeh, Professor of Global Health, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University
Elizabeth Leahy Madsen,Senior Program Director, International Programs, Population Reference Bureau
Israel’s Tightening Control of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza|October 30, 2019|12:30pm-2:00pm|Middle East Institute|1763 N St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036|Register Here
While some corners of Washington and the international community are waking up to the reality of Israel’s de facto annexation of Palestinian land in the West Bank and recurrent crisis in Gaza, few policymakers understand how the policies that have created this brutal and often tedious reality look like on the ground. This panel of seasoned Israeli experts will untangle the mess of occupation and annexation facing Palestinians living in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, as well as the decisions required to address Gaza’s chronic problems.
This event is part of the George and Rhonda Salem Family Foundation Lecture Series.
Participant Biographies
Avner Gvaryahu is the Executive Director of Breaking the Silence as well as an M.A. candidate in the Institute for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia.
Daniel Seidemann is a practicing attorney in Jerusalem who specializes in legal and public issues in East Jerusalem.
Celine Touboul is the Co-Director General of the Economic Cooperation Foundation (ECF), an Israeli policy planning think-tank designing and advancing initiatives aimed at creating the conditions for the resumption of a genuine Israeli-Palestinian peace process and the realization of a viable two state-solution.
Dr. Bashar Azzeh (moderator) is a Member of the PLO Palestine National Council, PLO Center Council, PPSF Party international secretary and Advisor to the PLO.
Recent Trends in Democracy and Development in the Emerging World|October 31, 2019|10:00am-11:30am|Brookings Institution|Saul/Zilkha Auditorium, 1775 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20036|Register Here
By the end of 2019, more people will have cast a vote than ever before. Nearly 2 billion voters in 50 countries around the world will have headed to the polls to elect their leaders. At the same time, data show that citizens’ trust in governments is weak and political polarization is growing almost everywhere. Many are feeling left behind and find it hard to coexist with people who have different views. Social networks and echo chambers amplify this mistrust. Simultaneously, the world is getting richer, with just over half of the global population now middle class or wealthier. Many countries, ranging from autocracies to liberal democracies, are struggling to form political platforms that can satisfy a broad middle-class majority.
On October 31, the Global Economy and Development program at Brookings and the Center for the Implementation of Public Policies for Equity and Growth (CIPPEC) from Argentina will co-host an event to assess democratic trends in the developing world and tease out implications for growth and development, drawing from recent electoral results in Africa, Latin America, and South Asia. The event will kick off with a brief presentation on global attitudes toward democracy by the Pew Research Center. A moderated panel with regional experts will follow.
Speakers
Homi Kharas (Welcome Remarks): Interim Vice President and Director, Global Economy and Development
Richard Wike: Director of Global Attitudes Research, Pew Research Center
Julia Pomares: Executive Director, Centre for the Implementation of Public Policy for Equity and Growth (CIPPEC)
Landry Signé: David M. Rubenstein Fellow, Global Economy and Development, Africa Growth Initiative
Irfan Nooruddin: Professor, Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
Richard Wike (Moderator): Director of Global Attitudes Research, Pew Research Center
Iran Hostage Crisis 40th Anniversary Panel Discussion|October 31, 2019|10:30am-12:00pm|Wilson Center|1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004 |Register Here
On November 4, 1979, a crowd of Iranian students charged into the US embassy in Tehran and took hostage 52 American diplomats and citizens. The resulting diplomatic standoff would last 444 days. Now, 40 years later, the Iran Hostage Crisis continues to loom as one of the defining moments in US-Iran relations. To mark the anniversary of this crucial event, a panel of US-Iran relations experts meet to discuss how the Crisis is viewed today and how it continues to play a role in US foreign policy.
The panel will be moderated by Haleh Esfandiari, former director and founder of the Wilson Center’s Middle East Program.
Dr. Esfandiari will be joined on the panel by:
Bruce Riedel, Senior Fellow and Director of The Intelligence Project at the Brookings Institute.
Suzanne Maloney, Deputy Director of the Foreign Policy Program and Senior Fellow at the Center for Middle East Policy, Energy Security and Climate Initiative at the Brookings Institute.
John Limbert, retired US Diplomat and Distinguished Professor of International Affairs at the US Naval Academy. Ambassador Limbert was stationed in the US embassy in Iran in 1979 and was one of the diplomats held hostage, for which he received the Award of Valor.
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Peace Picks October 13-19
After the Syrian Pullback: What’s Next for Middle East Policy|October 15, 2019|9:15am-11:00am|Hudson Institute|Stern Policy Center, 1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Suite 400, Washington DC 20004|Register Here
Hudson Institute will host a debate on the latest developments in Syria and Turkey, the impact on U.S. interests, and the future of U.S. Middle East policy. Hudson Senior Fellow Mike Doran will argue in favor of the president’s withdrawal, while Hudson Fellow Blaise Misztal and Former Assistant Secretary of Defense Mary Beth Long will present the counterargument that this move is detrimental to U.S. interests in the region.
The Trump administration’s decision to move U.S. forces out of the way of a Turkish military operation in northeastern Syria is a fundamental change to the last five years of U.S. policy in the region. The decision appears to bring to an end the U.S. partnership with Syrian Kurdish forces, forged in the fight against the Islamic State, while potentially reinvigorating the flagging U.S.-Turkish alliance. The debate will explore the broader implications throughout the region.
Speakers
Blaise Misztal Fellow, Hudson Institute
Mike Doran Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute
Mary Beth Long Former Assistant Secretary of Defense, U.S. Department of Defense
Program
Registration: 9:15 a.m. — 9:30 a.m.
Introduction: 9:30 a.m. — 9:35 a.m.
Panel Remarks and Discussion: 9:35 a.m. — 10:35 a.m.
Audience Q & A: 10:35 a.m. — 11:00 a.m.
Iraq Conference|October 15, 2019|10:00AM-4:00PM|Middle East Institute|1763 N St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036|Register Here
The Middle East Institute (MEI) is pleased to host its second Iraq Conference, which will bring together leading policy voices to explore the key challenges and opportunities confronting current and future generations in Iraq. Four panels and two keynotes will explore the ways in which Iraqis, the United States, and the international community must adapt to the political, economic, and social changes facing Iraq.
Agenda:
10:00-11:30AM | Panel I: Regional Cooperation: Operationalizing the Baghdad Declaration
The opening panel will examine opportunities for growth in regional cooperation. Specifically, panelists will propose economic, security, and trade policies which encourage bilateral and multilateral solutions to systemic regional issues.
Joey Hood
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs
Randa Slim
Director of Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues Program, MEI
H.E. Fareed Yasseen
Ambassador to the United States, Republic of Iraq
Ross Harrison, moderator
Senior Fellow, MEI
11:30AM-1:00PM | Panel II: Rebuilding Iraq’s Social Fabric: A Way Forward for IDPs and Communities Liberated from ISIS
This panel will address the urgent humanitarian concerns, economic desperation, and legal limbo facing internally displaced persons in Iraq, and propose policy solutions regarding livelihoods, safe resettlement, and minority rights protections. Panelists will also explore the legal and social challenges Iraq is facing in dealing with the aftermath of the war against ISIS.
Basma Alloush
Policy and Advocacy Officer, Norwegian Refugee Council
Amb. Rend Al Rahim
President, Iraq Foundation
Rasha Al Aqeedi
Managing Editor, Irfaa Sawtak
Hallam Ferguson
Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for the Middle East, USAID
Joyce Karam, moderator
Washington Correspondent, The National UAE
1:00-1:30PM | Lunch
1:30-2:45PM | Panel III: Energy, Water, and Climate Change
This panel will explore the ways in which the water crisis and the long term effects of climate change have impacted Iraq. Panelists will explore policy solutions to these challenges and prospects for energy innovation.
Omar Al Nidawi
Program manager, Enabling Peace in Iraq Center
Abbas Kadhim
Director of Iraq Initiative, Atlantic Council
Bilal Wahab
Nathan and Esther K. Wagner fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Randa Slim, moderator
Director, Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues Program, MEI
2:45-4:00PM | Panel IV: Forecasting Local Provincial Elections and the Popular Mobilization Forces
The closing panel will focus on the upcoming local provincial elections and the importance of political pluralism and participation of Iraqis. The panelists will examine the influence of the PMF and will propose policy solutions to Iraq’s political system and institutional crisis.
Naufel Al Hassan
Former Chief of Staff, Prime Minister’s Office, Republic of Iraq
Shahla Al Kli
Principal Development Specialist, DAI
Michael Fleet (via skype)
Senior researcher, Institute on Governance
Hafsa Halawa
Independent Consultant and Political Analyst
Ambassador (ret.) Gerald Feierstein, moderator
Senior Vice President, MEI
The Syrian Conflict and Kurdish Issue: A Regional Dilemma|October 16, 2019|11:00AM-12:30PM|Turkish Heritage Organization|National Press Club, 529 14th St NW, Washington DC 20045|Register Here
Join THO on October 16, starting at 11:00 AM for a panel discussion on the latest situation in Syria and the realties in the region. We’re delighted to be joined by a group of experts who will analyze the situation and offer their expertise.
Speakers:
Eva Savelsberg, President of the European Center for Kurdish Studies, Germany
Kyle Orton, Senior Foreign Policy Expert, United Kingdom
Abdullah Kedo, Executive at Political Commission of Kurdish National Council & Member of Yekiti Party
*Lunch will be served
Yemen at a Crossroads: Are New Conflict Dynamics Reshaping the Country’s Future?|October 16, 2019|12:30PM-2:00PM|The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington|1050 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 1060, Washington, DC 20036|Register Here
Recent developments in Yemen’s war, in particular violent clashes between forces operating within the Saudi-led coalition supporting President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, have focused attention anew on deep North-South fissures, the viability of the internationally recognized government, and the boost Houthi rebels have received from the drawdown of Emirati forces. What appears certain is that the dynamics of Yemen’s protracted war have changed materially: Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have invested deeply in the conflict, are seeking to protect both national security and economic interests. An emboldened Houthi insurgency seems determined to press its advantage. Even extremist and terrorist groups have re-emerged to assert their capacity to act as spoilers in any political settlement.
Have the Houthi rebels, for all intents and purposes, won Yemen’s war? Is the notion of a unified Yemeni state yet another casualty of the conflict? How are neighboring countries calculating the impact of recent events on their core interests? Have Saudi Arabia and the UAE unleashed forces in Yemen that will threaten these interests and test their alliance?
Speakers
Elana DeLozier – Research Fellow, Bernstein Program on Gulf and Energy Policy, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Abdulghani al-Iryani – Political and Development Consultant on Yemen
Charles Schmitz – Professor of Geography, Towson University
Ambassador Stephen A. Seche, Moderator – Executive Vice-President, AGSIW
Refugees in Lebanon: Perspectives from on the Ground|October 16, 2019|2:00PM-3:30PM|Middle East Institute|1763 N St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036|Register Here
In recent months, refugees in Lebanon are facing a dismal climate of social polarization, opportunistic political rhetoric, and increasing hostility, with the demolition of some informal camp settlements, enhanced labor law restrictions, and widespread protests. Humanitarian programs must navigate tensions between host, Palestinian and Syrian refugee communities against the backdrop of Lebanon’s serious economic and environmental difficulties.
The Middle East Institute (MEI) and Anera are pleased to invite you to a panel discussion of the many challenges facing Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.
Speakers
Dima Zayat | Anera Deputy Country Director, Lebanon
Serene Dardari | Anera Communications and Outreach Manager, Lebanon
Mona Yacoubian | Senior Advisor on Syria, the Middle East, and North Africa, United States Institute of Peace
Randa Slim (moderator) | Senior Fellow and Director of Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues Program, MEI
Exploring New Approaches for Atrocity Prevention|October 16, 2019|3:00PM-4:30PM|United States Institute of Peace|2301 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037|Register Here
A new report from the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC) proposes an international doctrine called the “Right to Assist,” which would strengthen external support for nonviolent civil resistance campaigns demanding rights, freedom, and justice against nondemocratic rule. Drawing from social science research and insights from practitioners, Right to Assist argues that support for nonviolent civil resistance can help avert atrocities and civil war, as well as increase the prospect for long-term democratic stability.
Join USIP for a discussion on the Right to Assist doctrine with ICNC President Hardy Merriman, co-author of the report, and other civil resistance experts. The event will look at how Right to Assist could be implemented, as well as how increased external support might be viewed from the perspectives of efficacy, international law, practical concerns, and possible unintended consequences. Join the conversation on Twitter with #PeoplePower4Peace.
Speakers
Quscondy Abdulshafi
Research Consultant, Dexis Consulting Group-OTI/USAID
Ariela Blätter
Program Officer, Atrocities Prevention and Response, Wellspring Philanthropic Fund
Alejandra Espinoza
Executive Director, Voices of Nicaragua
Nancy Lindborg
President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace
Hardy Merriman
President, ICNC
Maria Stephan
Director, Program on Nonviolent Action, U.S. Institute of Peace
Complex Puzzle, Shifting Pieces: The Domestic, Regional, and International Forces Reshaping the Gulf|October 17, 2019|8:30AM-5:00PM|Gulf International Forum|The National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW, Washington DC 20045|Register Here
It comes as no surprise that the past year has been a remarkable one for the Gulf region. The sheer change in circumstances for the region compared to this time in 2018 is staggering. While last year’s conversation was unduly concerned with the ramifications of the still-ongoing ‘Gulf Crisis’ the apparent institutionalization of the rift has seemingly killed the bloc’s original purpose. Arising within this void have been the proliferation of new questions related to the War in Yemen, deepening inter-Gulf tensions, a post-JCPOA Iran, and an Iraq precariously fending off a resurging ISIS. Meanwhile, the region has brought about renewed skepticism from the United States and other Western nations, leading to questions concerning the Gulf’s place in the world order. In both hemispheres, a once-quiet region has been vaulted into the spotlight for reasons related to conflict, economics, geopolitics, and human rights. Given these complex dynamics, GIF is looking forward to our Second Annual Gulf International Conference “Complex Puzzle, Shifting Pieces: The Domestic, Regional & International Forces Reshaping the Gulf.” Please join us for a day of panel discussions and presentations that seeks to offer clarity concerning inter-Gulf dynamics, conflict scenarios in Iraq and Yemen, the looming presence of Iran and possible changes to the U.S-Gulf relationship.
Schedule of Events
9:00-9:15 Opening Remarks – Dania Thafer, GIF Executive DIrector
9:15-9:45 Keynotes – the Honorable Ambassador Chas W. Freeman Jr. and Dr. Abu Bakr al-Qirbi
9:50-11:05 – Panel 1: The Changing Same: New Developments for Old Challenges Facing the Gulf
- Congressman James P. Moran Former member, US House of Representatives
- General (Ret.) Mark T. Kimmitt Fmr Asst Sec State for Political-Military Affairs
- Dina Esfandiary Intl Security Program Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and Intl Affairs
- Dr. Lina Khatib Head of MENA programs, Chatham House
- Dr. Kristian Coates Ulrichsen MENA Fellow, Rice University Baker Inst. for Public Policy
11:10-12:25 – Panel 2: Triumphs and Tribulations of Implementing Gulf Economic Visions
- Dr. Tarek Yousef Director, Brookings Center – Doha
- Dr. Bessma Momani Professor, Dept of Poli. Sci University of Waterloo
- Dania Thafer Executive Director, Gulf International Forum
- Dr. Jassim Hussein Former Member, Parliament of Bahrain
12:30-1:00 – Network/Break for Lunch
1:00-2:00 – Lunchtime and Award Ceremony
- Husham Althahabi Founder – The Iraq Home for Creativity
- Maali S. Alasousi Country Director, Direct Aid Organization
2:10-3:25 – Panel 3A: Changing Dynamics of Security and Defense in the Gulf
- Professor David Des Roches Associate Professor, NESA Center for Security Studies
- Dr. Capt Jeffrey Macris USN. RET. Professor of History, United States Naval Academy
- Elana DeLozier Research Fellow, Washington Institute for Near East Policy
- Ambassador Gerald Feierstein Fmr. United States Ambasador to Yemen
- Becca Wasser Policy Analyst, RAND Corporation
- Dr. Abbas Kadhim Director and Senior Resident Fellow Iraq Initiative, Atlantic Council
2:10-3:25 – Panel 3B: Cracked but Unbroken: Women and the Gulf’s Glass Ceiling
- H.E. Dr. Hend al-Muftah Member, Qatari Shura Council
- Negar Morazavi Consultant Editor, The Independent
- Dr. Sahar Khamis Associate Professor, University of Maryland
- Dr. Lana Baydas Human Rights Expert
- Dr. Maalak al-Rasheed Professor, Kuwait University
3:30-4:45 – Panel 4A: Congress and the President: US-Gulf Policymaking in a Divided Government
- Rachel Oswald Foreign Policy Reporter, CQ Roll Call
- Aaron David Miller Fmr. Senior Advisor-Arab Israeli Negotiations, State Dept.
- Steve Simon Fmr. Senior Director-MENA, National Security Council
- The Honorable Mary Beth Long Fmr. Asst. Sec. Def., United States Department of Defense
- Khalil Jahshan Executive Director, Arab Center – DC
- Sheikh Abdulla al-Ali al-Sabah Kuwaiti Academic and Researcher
3:30-4:45 – Panel 4B: Manipulating Religion: Political Islam and the Region’s Competition for Dominance
- Khaled Saffuri Director, National Interest Foundation
- Dr. Abdullah Baabood Professor, Singapore National University
- Dr. Bulent Aras Senior Scholar, Wilson Center
- Dr. Courtney Freer Research Fellow, London School of Economics
- Dr. Kristin Diwan Senior Resident Scholar, Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington
4:50-5:00 – Executive Director’s Closing Remarks
What’s Next for Democracy and Women’s Rights in Afghanistan?|October 18, 2019|8:30-9:30AM|United States Institute of Peace|2301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC 20037|Register Here
Join Rep. Susan Davis and Rep. Martha Roby as they reflect on important progress made by and for Afghan women within the domestic, civic, military, and political spheres, which they have highlighted in annual congressional delegations to Afghanistan over the past 12 years. Afghan women have expressed their sense of empowerment, resilience, and determination as they have gained influence over this period. They have also emphasized the challenges they face in securing their critical role in the future development of their country. Rep. Davis and Rep. Roby, who recently led a bipartisan member delegation to Afghanistan in May 2019, will reflect on the past, present, and future of the country. Light refreshments will be served.
Speakers
Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA)
U.S. Representative from California
Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL)
U.S. Representative from Alabama
Nancy Lindborg, moderator
President and CEO, U.S. Institute of Peace
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Peace Picks September 30-October 4
Reducing Threats and Building Stability|September 30, 2019|5:00PM-7:30PM|Middle East Institute|1763 N St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036|Register Here
The Middle East Institute (MEI) is pleased to host an event in partnership with CARE addressing possibilities for reducing threats and building stability. To address these topics, Ambassador William Burns, president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, will be interviewed by reporter Michelle Kosinski. The two will discuss Burns’ book The Back Channel: A Memoir of American Diplomacy and the Case for Its Renewal. Following Ambassador Burns’ presentation, former Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz and former Under Secretary of Defense Michele Flournoy will continue the conversation on threat reduction and stabilization, moderated by MEI President Paul Salem.
Ambassador William Burns is president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Michelle Kosinski is CNN’s senior diplomatic correspondent responsible for covering the State Department
Michèle Flournoy is CEO of WestExec Advisors and is the former CEO of CNAS, an organization she co-founded
Ernest Moniz is new chief executive officer and co-chair by the Board of Directors of the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI)
Ernest Moniz is chief executive officer and co-chair by the Board of Directors of the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI)
Paul Salem (moderator) is president of The Middle East Institute. He focuses on issues of political change, transition, and conflict as well as the regional and international relations of the Middle East
The Struggle for Inclusive Citizenship in Arab Countries|October 1, 2019|2:00PM|Atlantic Council|1030 15th St NW, 12th Floor, Washington DC 20005|Register Here
The Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East and the United Nations Development Programme invite you to a presentation previewing the forthcoming 2019 Arab Human Development Report, followed by a panel discussion. The report will focus on the struggle for citizenship in all its dimensions in Arab countries. Dr. Adel Abdellatif, Senior Strategic Advisor at the Regional Bureau for Arab States, and Paola Pagliani, Policy Specialist from the United Nations Development Programme will present the conceptual framework for the forthcoming report (briefly outlined in this research paper) and preview some of the preliminary results of surveys conducted in twelve Arab countries.
Since the 2011 uprisings, Arab countries have struggled to define a new social contract that would insulate their citizens from forces of exclusion—forces that range from poverty, inequality and unemployment to water scarcity, corruption and gender discrimination. In some cases, reforms and policies aiming at modernization have, as an unintended consequence, generated greater inequality rather than greater inclusion. In other cases, exclusion has fueled societal tensions, instability and ultimately violence, putting people at greater risk of marginalization. If ongoing conflicts are not resolved and demographic projections do not deviate from current trends, 40 percent of people in Arab countries will live in crisis and conflict conditions by 2030.
Presenters
Dr. Adel Abdellatif
Senior Strategic Advisor, Regional Bureau for Arab States
United Nations Development Programme
Ms. Paola Pagliani
Policy Specialist
United Nations Development Programme
Discussants
Dr. Amaney A. Jamal
Edwards S. Sanford Professor of Politics
Princeton University
Dr. James Zogby
Managing Director
Zogby Research Services
Moderator
Ambassador Richard LeBaron
Nonresident Senior Fellow, Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East
Atlantic Council
The Kashmir Crisis: A Discussion with President Masood Khan|October 1, 2019|12:30PM-2:00PM|Middle East Institute|1763 N St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036|Register Here
On August 5, 2019, India stripped the special status of Kashmir and absorbed the state into the Indian Union. Prime Minister Modi’s decision and the imposition of a communications blackout and strict curfew was denounced in Pakistan and questioned elsewhere. For decades, Pakistan has been trying to draw international attention to legal and human rights issues in Kashmir. The actions of the prime minister have now forced Kashmir on to the world stage and India into a defensive role. Thus far, however, the reactions of major regional and global powers have been muted. Pakistan remains determined to sustain Kashmir’s high profile by pointing out new humanitarian concerns and the growing danger of armed, possibly nuclear conflict.
Masood Khan is a Pakistani diplomat who serves as the 27th President of Pakistan administered Kashmir
Raza Rumi is the president of INDUS-Moblizing People’s Power, a Washington D.C. based Non Profit research organization
Marvin Weinbaum (moderator) is the director for Afghanistan and Pakistan studies at MEI
Venezuela: From UNGA Commitments to a Global Action Plan|October 2, 2019|1:00PM|Atlantic Council|1030 15th St NW, 12th Floor, Washington DC 20005|Register Here
Venezuela is front-and-center at the United Nations annual meetings in New York. On Monday, in a significant step, governments party to the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance (TIAR) overwhelmingly voted to invoke it. But what happens if inaction settles in post-UNGA? What is clear is that a deepening of the crisis would trigger new, even more concerning reverberations across Latin America, the Caribbean, the United States, Europe, and beyond.
To seize the moment for renewed attention to the rapidly-deteriorating situation in Venezuela, the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, in partnership with Foreign Policy Magazine and Florida International University’s Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy, invite you to a post-UNGA discussion on how the international community is likely to coordinate a global action plan to avert further threats to regional and global stability.
Speakers
Luis Guillermo Solís
Former President
Republic of Costa Rica
Amb. Marcel de Vink
Director of Western Hemisphere Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Kingdom of the Netherlands
**Additional speakers to be announced.
Oil, Money, and U.S.-Saudi Relations Since 1954|October 2, 2019|2:00PM-3:30PM|Middle East Institute|1763 N St. NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036|Register Here
The Middle East Institute is pleased to host a book talk with Thomas Lippman to launch his new book, Crude Oil, Crude Money: AristotleOnassis, Saudi Arabia, and the CIA. In conversation with MEI Senior Vice President Gerald Feierstein, Lippman will delve into 70 years of economic and strategic partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia, examining the ways in which this long standing relationship has withstood deep disagreements and disputes. The talk will focus on the circumstances surrounding King Saud’s agreement with Aristotle Onassis in 1954 for a shipping contract which would affect American business in the kingdom, as well as the Eisenhower administration’s reaction.
Thomas W. Lippman is an award-winning author and journalist who has written about Middle Eastern affairs and American foreign policy for more than three decades, specializing in Saudi Arabian affairs, U.S.- Saudi relations, and relations between the West and Islam
Ambassador (ret.) Gerald Feierstein is senior vice president at MEI. He retired from the U.S. Foreign Service in May 2016 after a 41-year career with the personal rank of Career Minister
Venezuela’s Water Crisis and the Path Forward|October 3, 2019|8:30AM-2:00PM|Center for Strategic and International Studies|1616 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036|Register Here
Please join CSIS Americas and Future of Venezuela Initiative in collaboration with Plan País for a conference on the water crisis in Venezuela affecting citizen access to drinking water, farmer’s access to irrigated land, and the water management system of the country. Venezuela’s water system is currently facing a number of critical issues and a clear path forward is needed to address the country’s water crisis in the short term and to identify a roadmap for longer term structural reforms addressing all aspects of the national water management system.
The purpose of this conference is to analyze the current threats endangering the nation’s watersheds, the capacity of the water management system to protect the nation’s water resources, and the conditions of multiple entities responsible for assuring access to safe and clean water throughout the country.
Keynote remarks will be provided by Bonnie Glick, Deputy Administrator for USAID. The first panel will cover the diagnostics of the water crisis in Venezuela. The second panel will cover solutions and action plans to help the country rebuild its water management system. Panelists will include Venezuela-based Plan País experts, as well as experts on water management systems from U.S.-based institutions.
This event will take place in both English and Spanish. Simultaneous translation will be available.
Conference Agenda:
8:30 AM – Coffee and Guest Arrivals
9:00 AM – Event Begins
9:10 AM – Keynote Remarks
9:20 AM – Introductory Remarks
9:40 AM – Panel #1: Diagnostic of Water Crisis
10:30 AM – Coffee Break
10:45 AM – Panel #2: Solutions and Action Plans
12:15 PM – Networking Lunch
2:00 PM – Conclusion
Speakers
Juan Andrés Mejía: President, Plan País Committee; Deputy, National Assembly of Venezuela
Bonnie Glick: Deputy Administrator of the US Agency for International Development
José María de Viana: Technical Coordinator for Public Services, Plan País
María Julia Bocco: Water and Sanitation Lead Economist, Inter-American Development Bank
Germán Uzcategui: Mechanical Engineer at the Universidad de los Andes; Adviser to the Executive Director for Eastern Production, PDVSA
Moises Rendon: Director, The Future of Venezuela Initiative and Fellow, Americas Program
Mark L. Schneider: Senior Adviser (Non-resident), Americas Program and Human Rights Initiative
Michael A. Matera: Director and Senior Fellow, Americas Program
Katherine Bliss: Senior Fellow, Global Health Policy Center
Security, Stability, and the Future of Kashmir|October 4, 2019|9:45AM-11:30AM|Hudson Institute|1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 400Washington, DC 20004|Register Here
Hudson Institute will host a discussion on recent developments in Kashmir. Panelists will include the Heritage Foundation’s Jeff Smith, Indian politician and writer Salman Anees Soz, and the Atlantic Council’s Shuja Nawaz. The discussion will be moderated by Aparna Pande, Hudson research fellow and director of the Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia.
On August 5, India revoked the special status of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, dividing the one-time state into two union territories – Jammu and Kashmir as one territory and Ladakh as another. This ushered in security, administrative, and political issues both inside and outside India. Panelists will address these issues, including the domestic security implications of this decision by the Indian government, responses from the international community, and the implications for U.S. foreign policy in the region.
Speakers
Salman Anees Soz: Indian Politician and Author, The Great Disappointment: How Narendra Modi Squandered a Unique Opportunity to Transform the Indian Economy
Shuja Nawaz: Distinguished Fellow, South Asia Center; Former Director, South Asia Center, Atlantic Council
Aparna Pande: Research Fellow and Director, Initiative on the Future of India and South Asia, Hudson Institute
Jeff Smith: Research Fellow, Asian Studies Center, Heritage Foundation
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Imbalanced Region
On September 20 the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) hosted a panel discussion entitled “Red Sea Rivalries: Middle East Competition in the Horn of Africa” to introduce and discuss a new report from the International Crisis Group (ICG) on the influence of Gulf Countries on the Horn of Africa. Opening remarks were delivered by Ambassador Johnnie Carson and Robert Malley, President of ICG. Elizabeth Dickinson, ICG’s Arabian peninsula analyst and Dino Mahtani, ICG’s Africa program deputy director outlined the report’s findings. UN advisor Nicholas Haysom, African Union Chief of Staff to the High-Level Implementation Panel Abdul Mohammad, and former Egyptian Ambassador Hesham Youssef provided commentary.
Malley described three key findings: first, the Gulf must stop exporting its conflicts to the Red Sea region; second, the Red Sea countries should negotiate collectively with the Gulf; and third, Western countries have a role to play in these conflicts but have only recently begun to do so.
Dickinson argued that Gulf competition in the Red Sea region is part of wider strategy throughout North Africa and the Sahel. Qatar and the UAE-Saudi alliance’s interventions in Sudan are related to its actions in Chad and Niger, the three countries bordering the stronghold of the UAE’s Libya proxy General Haftar. She also argued that the Gulf countries do not consider the Horn of Africa part of a different continent in which they are foreign meddlers. Rather, they think of the Red Sea as part of their region and their role in it as a natural extension of longstanding historical ties.
Mahtani emphasized that he is cautiously optimistic about the prospect of a stable dynamic between Gulf countries and domestic actors in Sudan. The killing of 120 people in Khartoum in June by General Hemeti’s forces pushed his Emirati and Saudi backers to show contrition. In July, an attempted coup by Qatar-backed members of Sudan’s military showed that Hemeti faced strong enough opposition to prevent him from ruling through coercion alone. Mahtani argued that this reality may push the UAE to compromise with Qatar on Sudan. This could lay the groundwork for future cooperation between the two countries on their overall plans for Sudan’s post-Bashir development.
Mahtani contrasted this to the situation in Somalia, where the federal government in Mogadishu is aligned with Qatar while regional political leaders receive support from the UAE and Saudi Arabia. He also described the UAE’s indirect support of al-Shabab through purchases of Somali charcoal, a significant source of funding for the militant group. In exchange, al-Shabab has increased the number of their attacks this summer and targeted a delegation of Qataris and Somali federal government employees, acting as “subcontractors for political violence.” Several panelists agreed that the Gulf rivalries have contributed to political fragmentation and violence in Somalia and will likely continue to do so indefinitely.
Both Dickinson and Mahtani emphasized the role that multilateralism can play in addressing the power asymmetry between the Gulf countries and those in the Horn of Africa. They argued that Horn of Africa countries can increase their bargaining power by negotiating jointly with the Gulf through regional multilateral organizations like the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) or the African Union. The United States rarely involves itself but when it does it can make a big difference to the effectiveness of these multilateral discussions. In Sudan, the Quad talks among the United States, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE facilitated the power sharing compromise.
Mohammad agreed that Africa’s strong tradition of multilateralism could benefit the countries of the Horn of Africa and added that it could provide an example of positive multilateral relations to the Gulf countries. He argued that while Gulf countries have weaponized the GCC against each other in recent years, adopting an African-inspired culture of multilateralism could provide a means to transcend conflict in the Middle East. Hesham agreed that multilateralism in this part of the world is important but argued that it will not solve the problem of asymmetry in the bilateral relationships between Gulf states and Horn of Africa countries.
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