Ambassador of Sweden Bruno S. Beijer’s interaction focused on regional developments and cooperation between the GRC and Swedish institutes/government bodies in various areas, including environmental issues.
Iraq Defense Minister Dr. Sadoun Al-Dulaimi was briefed about the GRC’s activities in general and Iraq in particular. Dr. Dulaimi was presented a copy of the Arabic version of Military Balance, a journal published by the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies and translated by the GRC.
Military Balance is the premier source of analysis, factual data, and information on global defense capabilities and trends, which the GRC is making available in Arabic for the first time in the region as part of its information dissemination program.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Scott Carpenter took part in one of the sessions of the workshop on ‘political reforms in GCC countries’ organized jointly by the GRC and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The US official briefed the participants about the developments at the ‘Forum for the Future’ meeting in Manama and also sought to clarify doubts about the US reform plan in the region.
Dr Habib El Habr, Director of the United Nations Environment Program Regional Office for West Asia, and Mr Ibrahim Al Zubi, UAE Coordinator of the Global Civil Society Forum (GCSF) and Director, Environment Research, Emirates Diving Association, held discussions about GRC’s participation at the 7th GCSF to be held in Dubai in February 2006 ahead of the 9th Special Session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum.
A Dutch delegation comprising of Baroness Henriette Van Lynden – Director, North Africa and Middle East Department, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Joke Buringa – Deputy Head Gulf States Division, and Consul-General Bart Twaalfhoven were briefed about the GRC research programs. The officials were particularly interested in the Dutch embassies benefiting from the Executive Learning Program. They also discussed GCC-EU issues, including how to formulate the Strategic Partnership and how to have Gulf issues placed on the EU agenda more effectively.
A South African delegation headed by Minister of Trade and Industry Mandisi Mpahlwa and Ambassador Dikgang Moopeloa held discussions on improving business ties between the GCC countries and the African country. The GRC, in its capacity as an independent think tank, briefed the delegation that in terms of economic challenges, both the GCC countries and South Africa share the common problem of dealing with growing unemployment. 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.
