GRC signs MoUs with Chinese, South Korean, American and three European institutions

The GRC signed memoranda of understanding with Chinese, South Korean, American and three European institutions between July and September to further the scope of research programs pertaining to relations between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the rest of the world.

Separate agreements were signed with the Shanghai-based Institute of Geopolitics and Economics of Energy (IGEE), Seoul-based Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP), Washington-based The Henry L. Stimson Center, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the Institute of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (IMEIS) at the University of Durham in Britain and the Netherlands Institute of International Relations 'Clingendael'.

The institutions have agreed to work together in pursuit of creating greater national, regional and international awareness on issues pertaining to security and stability in the Arabian Gulf region, the greater Middle East and beyond.

According to the GRC Chairman, Abdulaziz Sager, “the agreements aim to collaborate and support each other in the areas of research, policy facilitation and implementation of long-term conditions for peace, security and sustainable development."

The cooperation also aims to build the capacity of institutions and peoples in the region to assist in the planning, coordination and implementation of national, regional and international initiatives aimed at improving mutual understanding, resolving outstanding issues of conflict and promoting regional and trans-regional cooperation for stability and security, Sager said.

The areas of cooperation encompass joint research; dissemination of findings; convening conferences; facilitating exchange of scholars; translation, re-publication and distribution of selected publications; and sharing of relevant databases.

IGEE is an applied research body affiliated to the School of Advanced International and Area Studies at East China Normal University in Shanghai. The institute is the first of its kind in China to promote geopolitical and economic researchers and exchanges on strategic energy issues worldwide.

KIEP is a South Korean government-funded economic research institute. It is a leading institute on the international economy and its relationship with Korea. KIEP advises the government on all major international economic policy issues, and also serves as a warehouse of information on Korea's international economic policies. It also carries out research for foreign institutes and governments on all areas of the Korean and international economies.

The Stimson Center is a nonprofit, nonpartisan institution devoted to enhancing international peace and security through a unique combination of rigorous analysis and outreach. Its vision is of “a world in which instruments of security cooperation and peace overtake historic tendencies toward conflict and war.”

SIPRI is a research institute dedicated to conducting research relating to conflict and cooperation of importance for international peace and security, with the aim of contributing to an understanding of the conditions for peaceful solutions of international conflicts and for a stable peace.

The IMEIS, within the School of Government and International Affairs, is at the forefront of Middle Eastern studies, teaching and research in Britain. It is the only Economic and Social Research Council-recognized Middle East and Islamic studies department in Britain.

The Hague-based Clingendael Institute promotes the understanding of international affairs with special focus on European integration, transatlantic relations, international security, conflict studies, policy making on national and international energy markets, negotiations and diplomacy, as well as the United Nations and other international organizations.

GRC, AUS formalize cooperation agreement

The GRC and American University of Sharjah (AUS) signed a MoU to cooperate, collaborate and support each other in the areas of research, knowledge dissemination, networking, internships and related events. The motive of the agreement is to enhance knowledge about the Gulf region by disseminating information openly and as widely as possible. As a first step towards pursuing this aim, the GRC will supply all AUS students and faculty members with free access to its research website (www.grc.ae) and its media website (www.gulfinthemedia.com) until May 2006.

The two institutions have also agreed to cooperate effectively to enhance on-the-job experience by sponsoring internships for AUS students at GRC in various subject areas relevant to the region and specialized by the center; collaborate in research activities; publish selected joint publications in both electronic and hard copy forms; facilitate information exchange among scholars, researchers, faculty and students by convening joint conferences, seminars, workshops and lectures, as well as share relevant data and databases; encourage networking of scholars and regional experts; improve technical capabilities by exchanging relevant information and transferring knowledge, including best practice information; and promoting capacity building through the conduct of joint training programs.

GRC, ORF agree to cooperate on GCC-India research

GRC and New Delhi-based Observer Research Foundation (ORF) signed a memorandum of understanding to undertake joint studies and research projects pertaining to GCC-India relations, with the areas of cooperation due to be identified with mutual concurrence.

ORF is a non-profit and public policy think-tank visualized and supported by a cross-section of India’s leading intellectuals, academics, public figures, social activists, business leaders and institutions of higher learning.

GRC, Teri sign MoU to improve environment 

The Gulf Research Center and New Delhi-based The Energy and Resources Institute (Teri) signed a wide-ranging co-operation agreement to focus on the natural resources of the region, as well as the state of the environment, both critical to the future of the Gulf and world. Called “Green Gulf” project, the collaboration is an attempt to join hands in solving some of the unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, especially those associated with managing the Gulf’s resources – including land, air and water – in an efficient manner. The project aims to start by targeting and molding children and would seek the involvement of energy-related companies and institutions in the region to achieve its goal.

GRC, UNDP to cooperate on distribution of Arab Human Development Report

GRC signed an agreement with the United Nations Development Programme, which grants the center the world-wide distribution rights for the Arabic hardcopy and digital versions as well as the English digital version of the Arab Human Development Report 2004 – “Towards Freedom in the Arab World”.

The understanding also allows GRC to promote, sell and distribute the digital English versions of the 2002 and 2003 reports. While the Arabic digital copy version is available free of charge through the center’s website (www.grc.ae) as a downloadable file, the English digital copy will be available for a nominal cost of $10 per download. The Arabic hardcopy version will be made available both through the Center and its distribution channels comprising a wide retail network.

Dr. Adel M. Abdel Kader, Regional coordinator, Division of Early Warning and Assessment, UNEP- West Asia office, visited GRC to discuss possible cooperation in environmental activities especially the UNEP potential GEO Gulf Region Environmental Assessment research project.

Workshop on GCC-Iran ties lists CBMs

A workshop on relations between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Iran ended in Sharjah on Thursday with a call for “better communication, cooperation and coordination” to ensure that the prevailing atmosphere of “mixed signals, lack of transparency and mistrust” changes for the better in the interest of both sides.

Hosted by the Dubai-based Gulf Research Center (GRC) with the support of the UK-based Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at Durham University, the two-day workshop – Current conditions and future prospects of GCC-Iran relations in the wake of Iran’s presidential elections – brought together academics and officials from both spectrums, who laid out a raft of confidence building measures (CBMs) that could help in constructive management of the relations between the two sides.

According to the GRC Chairman, Abdulaziz Sager, the importance of the workshop lay in the fact that “we cannot afford to overlook the future trends of bilateral relations between the GCC countries and Iran, nor can we ignore the major regional and international developments that shaped the complex nature of relations between Washington and Tehran, the ramifications of the tug of war that accompanied the Iranian nuclear program, the implications of the situation in Iraq and other issues of concern.”

While the GCC delegates expressed apprehension about the unknown qualities of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his “conservative” agenda, the Iranian delegates emphasized that the current Cabinet was more pragmatic than was expected of the president’s background and his supporters’ orientation. They stressed the current administration’s inclination to improve ties with Islamic countries, which could contribute to better neighborly relations. It was added that the remainder of the foreign policy will be characterized by being Asia-friendly and anti-West.

During the deliberations held in the spirit of Track-II diplomacy, the most urgent CBMs sought by the GCC participants were resolution of the dispute with the UAE over the islands of Abu Musa and Greater and Lesser Tunbs, as well as “redefine and reframe” the nuclear issue. They said that both issues epitomized Iran’s aggressive posture, which has intensified the environment of hostility. They insisted that the onus of proving that it is more for reconciliation than aggravating the crisis is on Tehran.

Iraq as a factor in further souring GCC-Iran relations also came under scrutiny. When pointed out that Tehran was using the deteriorating security situation to alter the balance of power in Iraq, which was unacceptable to the GCC countries, the Iranian experts defended the accusation by saying that a weak and disintegrated Iraq was more of a “liability” and unsustainable for Iran’s political, economic or security interests.

Much of the discussion focused on the threat emanating from Iran’s nuclear program with the overall assessment that miscalculations from the Iranian side could lead to catastrophic consequences for all the countries in the region. While insisting on the right of Iran to develop a peaceful civilian nuclear program, Iranian delegates sought to distinguish between the majority support for the program and the majority opposition against the “weaponization” of the program among Iran’s masses. Yet even on this point, there was a debate about actual Iranian intentions and the need for greater Iranian transparency. 

Apart from both sides agreeing that the US role in the region was widening the perception gap between the two, among the other points of convergence were exploring the possibilities of establishing a GCC-Iran-Iraq forum to help lift the veil of uncertainty in the region and reducing the threat perception by getting the two sides integrated economica

The Dubai-based Gulf Research Center (GRC) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) Division of Public Diplomacy will host a one-day joint conference from 9 am to 6 pm at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel on Monday, September 26.

Titled “Promoting Cooperation and Fostering Relations: Nato-Gulf Relations in the Framework of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative,” the discussion will focus on Nato’s decision to adopt the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative in June 2004, which underscores its intention to work with interested countries in the Middle East, starting with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

“These discussions will serve as a backdrop to foster a mutually beneficial bilateral relationship and enhance security and stability. It will also explore the possibility of Nato role in Gulf security matters,” GRC Chairman Abdulaziz Sager said.

Apart from experts from Nato and the GCC countries, the event will be attended by a number of high-level diplomats from both sides. Nato Assistant Secretary-General for Public Diplomacy Jean Fournet will give the keynote address.

S. Africa keen on Islamic sukuks, says trade minister

South Africa is interested in the region’s booming market of Islamic sukuk and will actively consider it in its business expansion plan with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, South African Minister of Trade and Industry Mandisi Mpahlwa said in Dubai on Sunday.

“The configuration of world power is changing and attempts to establish better ties with the GCC countries is a recognition of that transformation,” the minister said during a visit to the Gulf Research Center (GRC) to discuss potential areas of furthering economic cooperation between the GCC countries and South Africa.

“From historic relations with the United States and the Euro zone, South Africa’s business relations have expanded into Africa, Southeast Asia and the GCC region,” Mpahlwa said.

As part of a two-day trip to the UAE to further bilateral business ties, the minister – who is leading a team of delegates from at least 25 leading South African companies – signed three major trade agreements with the UAE, including the avoidance of double taxation and fiscal agreement, the economic, trade and technical agreement and the promotion and reciprocal protection of Investment.

The GRC, in its capacity as an independent think tank, pointed out to the minister that only one percent of the GCC trade is with South Africa, which has run a trade deficit with most of the countries in the Gulf region for the last 10 years. In 2004, the GCC exports to South Africa stood at $2.9 billion, with oil from Saudi Arabia constituting a large part of it. The GCC imports from South Africa stood at $696 million. The UAE headed the GCC importer list with gold being the top commodity.

The delegation was briefed that in terms of economic challenges, both the GCC countries and South Africa share the common problem of dealing with growing unemployment. “Both economies are also trying to move away from the primary sector activities, to tertiary sectors such as knowledge-based services and tourism,” the GRC said in its recommendations.

Among the other areas of trade identified for possible consideration to further GCC-South African commercial relations were the minerals, petrochemicals, financial, and real estate sectors. It was also suggested that South African companies could attract GCC capital by way of issuing Islamic bonds, which are extremely popular with GCC investors.

The South African delegation will visit Bahrain next as part of the African country’s plan to give Gulf traders and investors a closer look at the business, tourism, investment and industrial opportunities South Africa has on offer.

GRC signs cooperation agreements with three European institutions

The Gulf Research Center (GRC) signed memoranda of understanding with three European academic organizations on Sunday to further the scope of research programs pertaining to relations between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the European Union.

The Dubai-based think tank, education provider and consultancy signed separate agreements with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the Institute of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (IMEIS) at the University of Durham in Britain and the Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’.

The institutions have agreed to work together in pursuit of creating greater national, regional and international awareness on issues pertaining to security and stability in the Arabian Gulf region, the greater Middle East and beyond.

According to the GRC Chairman, Abdulaziz Sager, “the agreements aim to collaborate and support each other in the areas of research, policy facilitation and implementation of long-term conditions for peace, security and sustainable development.”

The cooperation also aims to build the capacity of institutions and peoples in the region to assist in the planning, coordination and implementation of national, regional and international initiatives aimed at improving mutual understanding, resolving outstanding issues of conflict and promoting regional and trans-regional cooperation for stability and security, Sager said.

The areas of cooperation encompass joint research; dissemination of findings; convening conferences; facilitating exchange of scholars; translation, re-publication and distribution of selected publications; and sharing of relevant databases.

SIPRI is a research institute dedicated to conducting research relating to conflict and cooperation of importance for international peace and security, with the aim of contributing to an understanding of the conditions for peaceful solutions of international conflicts and for a stable peace.

The IMEIS, within the School of Government and International Affairs, is at the forefront of Middle Eastern studies, teaching and research in Britain. It is the only Economic and Social Research Council-recognized Middle East and Islamic studies department in Britain.

The Hague-based Clingendael Institute promotes the understanding of international affairs with special focus on European integration, transatlantic relations, international security, conflict studies, policy making on national and international energy markets, negotiations and diplomacy, as well as the United Nations and other international organizations.

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