Dr. Christian Koch gave a talk at the Emirates Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi focusing on "European Diplomacy towards the Gulf Region" to an audience of approx. 30 participants. Dr. Koch outlined some the impediments that Europe faces when structuring its foreign policy approach to the Gulf region before highlighting specific examples such as Iran, Yemen, the Gulf crisis and Political Islam. Following the talk, Dr. Timo Behr of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE provided some comments before holding a wider discussion with the attendees.
Dr. Mohamed Abdel Raouf, Program Manager – GRC Environmental Security and Sustainability Program delivered a presentation titled “Sustainability Challenges in the West Asia Region” to a number of staff and post graduate students at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan on 17 January 2018.”
Dr. Mohamed Abdel Raouf, Program Manager – GRC Environmental Security and Sustainability Program, participated in the 6th International Symposium for Future Earth in Asia, which took place at Kyoto University in Kyoto, Japan on 15-16 January 2018. Dr. Raouf delivered a presentation titled “Sustainable Consumption and Production in West Asia Region.”
Dr. Koch participated in the annual Berlin Foreign Policy Forum organized by the Körber Foundation in Berlin, Germany. The meeting was opened by German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and featured discussions on the future of the European Project, European Defense and Security Policy, a discussion on the prospects of a Westphalia-like peace approach to the issues confronting the Middle East, and a debate about the implications of the North Korean crisis. The event brought together more than 150 experts and policy practioners.
Dr. Mohamed Abdel Raouf, Program Manager – GRC Environmental Security and Sustainability Program, participated in the second meeting of the Open-Ended Committee of Permanent Representatives (OECPR 3) in preparation for the second United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 3), which took place at UN Environment Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. The Gulf Research Center participated in the meeting in its current capacity as the Global Focal Point of the Science and Technology Major Group of UN Environment.
Dr. Christian Koch, Director of the GRC Foundation, spoke at a breakfast discussion in the Qatar crisis at the Konrad-Adenauer Foundation in Berlin, Germany focusing on the dynamics that led to the current escalation of tensions between Qatar and its Arab neighbors. Key question considered during the debate were the reasons behind the crisis and what are its implications for regional security, cooperation and development. There was also a focus on consequences for Germany and Europe and their respective policy options in dealing with the involved Gulf countries and institutions such as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Dr. Koch was joined in the debate by Ibrahim Fraihat of the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.
