Dr. Christian Koch, Dr. Mustafa Alani and Nicole Stracke received at the GRC, Mr. John Richardson, Director of the Brussels Forum of the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) and Lamis Khalilova also of GMF. They discussed development in the Gulf region and opportunities for cooperation.
Dr. Christian Koch received a group of students from the Free University of Berlin studying the urban planning process of Dubai.
Nicole Stracke and Christian Koch received a 8-member student delegation from the New Initiative for Middle East Peace (NIMEP), a student-run think-tank at the Institute for Global Leadership at Tufts University
Ms. Lina Chihabi Marketing Manager of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) in Abu Dhabi visited GRC where she met with Dr. Mohamed Abdel Raouf to discuss cooperation in the field of environment.
A delegation from the Pillars of Knowledge for Research & Studies (PKRS) visited the Gulf Research Center. PKRS is a Khartoum-based non-profit, independent organization established in 2009. PKRS focuses on international relations, as well as social, economic and religious issues relating to Sudan. Dr. Ahmed Hassan, General Manager, Mr. Kalem Moustafa, Executive Manager, and Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Sadek, Director of Political Program of PKRS met with Dr. Oskar Ziemelis and Dr. Mohamed Abdel Raouf from the GRC to explore synergies between the two institutions and study possibilities of cooperation.
Dr. Christian Koch, Director of International Studies, met with the Honorable Bob Rae, Member of Parliament for Toronto Centre in the Canadian House of Commons to discuss regional developments and issues. Mr. Rae was accompanied by Taher Mukbel, Foreign Affairs Advisor and Cindie-Eve.Bourassa-Braun of the Canadian Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
Dr. Claudius Fischbach, Minister Counsellor of the Policy Planning Staff in the German Federal Foreign Office visited the GRC where he met with Dr. Christian Koch, Director of International Studies and Nicole Stracke of the Security and Terrorism Department. Dr. Fischbach came to GRC after attending the Manama Dialogue meeting and Bahrain to discuss Dubai’s economic development, the status of the GCC and concerns over Iran’s nuclear program.
