Programme
Managing conflict in the Middle East: the role of
regional actors
Tuesday 30 November – Friday 3 December 2010
WP 1060
Is there a greater dynamic for mediation and conflict resolution from within
the region? What are the strengths and weaknesses of regional actors in
conflict management? What is the relationship between regional and
international actors? Are there prospects for a more collective approach to
security?
in partnership with the NATO Defense College, Rome
Tuesday 30 November
1300-1430
Participants arrive and buffet lunch available
1500-1515
Welcome and introduction
Isobelle Jaques
Programme Director, Wilton Park, Steyning
Pierre Razoux
Senior Research Adviser, Mediterranean Dialogue/Istanbul Cooperation Initiative,
NATO Defense College, Rome
1515-1645
1. Towards a new geopolitical and security architecture in the region?
Paul Salem
Director, Carnegie Middle East Center, Beirut
What are the policy implications?
Christian Turner
Director, Middle East & North Africa, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London
1645-1730
Conference photograph followed by tea/coffee
1730-1900
2. Turkey: a new influential player in the Middle East?
Ünal Çeviköz
Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, London
Ian Lesser
Senior Transatlantic Fellow and head, Mediterranean Policy Program, German Marshall
Fund, Washington DC
1915
Reception
1945
Dinner
Wednesday 1 December
0800-0900
Breakfast
0900-1030
3. Iran: asset or obstacle to conflict resolution in the Middle East?
Bernard Hourcade
Senior Research Fellow, National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), Paris
Shahram Chubin
Non-Resident Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Geneva
1030
Tea/coffee
1100-1230
4. What role for Arab players?
Majed Al Qatarneh
Counsellor, Deputy Head of Mission and Chargé d'Affaires, Embassy of the Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan, London
Mustafa Alani
Senior Adviser; Director, Department of Security and Defence Studies, Gulf Research
Center, Dubai
Hesham Younes
Director, Strategic Studies, Qatar Embassy, London
1300-1500
Lunch
1500-1630
5. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict – how can regional actors help to
advance a peace process?
Udi Dekel
Former Head, Israel Defense Forces Strategic Planning Division; former Head of the
Negotiation Unit of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
Ziad Abu Amr
President, Palestinian Council on Foreign Relations
1630
Tea/coffee
1700-1830
6. Can regional actors facilitate an Israeli-Syrian normalisation?
Amos Harel
Defence analyst and correspondent, Haaretz, Tel Aviv
Paul Salem
Director, Carnegie Middle East Center, Beirut
1930
Reception
2000
Dinner
Thursday 2 December
0800-0900
Breakfast
0900-1030
7. How will Iraq’s relations with its neighbours develop in the medium
term?
Mustafa Alani
Senior Advisor, Gulf Research Center, Dubai
Mouoyad al-Windawi
Professor of Iraq Politics and formerly professor of Iraq Modern Political History, Baghdad
University
1030
Tea/coffee
1100-1230
8. What role for regional actors in helping resolve conflicts in Yemen?
Ahmed Saif
Director, Sheba Centre for Strategic Studies (SCSS), Sanaa
1300-1500
Lunch
1500-1630
9. What role for regional organisations in resolving conflicts? What is
the inter-play between regional and international actors?
Wael Al-Assad
Director, Department of Multilateral Relations, League of Arab States, Cairo
Marc Otte
European Union Special Representative to the Middle East Peace Process, Brussels
1630-1700
Tea/coffee
1700-1830
10. What are the policy implications of the changing balance of power
in the region?
Angus Mckee
Head, Middle East and North Africa Research Group, Foreign and Commonwealth Office,
London
Ahmed Saif
Director, Sheba Centre for Strategic Studies, Yemen
1930
Reception
2000
Dinner
Friday 3 December
0800-0900
Breakfast
0915
Participants depart