General (ret). Sergiu MEDAR - Chairman
General (ret). Sergiu MEDAR, Chairman of Middle East Political and Economic Institute, is a former National Security Advisor and Chief of National Security Department, former General Director of the Defense Intelligence General Department, and, previously, head of the Romanian Military Intelligence Department. He holds a Ph.D. and worked as scientific researcher at the Science and Engineering Institute. From 1990-1992, he worked with the Military Intelligence Department, pursuing in the meantime postgraduate studies in military intelligence. In 1992, he was appointed deputy to the military attaché of Romania in the US, Argentina, and Brazil. In 1996, he was promoted to full military attaché in the US. General Medar was a guest speaker at the Marshall Center in Garmish, Germany, and at the US Joint Military Intelligence College. He is a professor at “Lucian Blaga” University, Sibiu, and associate professor at the National Defense University of Romania and National Defense College.
Dr. Flavius CABA-MARIA - President and Director of the Political Department
Dr. Flavius CABA-MARIA, President and Director of the Political Department, is Managing Partner in International Competitive Solution, a company that provides legal, economic, and business strategy consulting to firms and entities interested to invest in the Middle East. His Ph.D. studies focused on Economic and International Affairs – The Role and Behavior of States and Multinational Companies in Global Trade War, particularly in the Middle East (Bucharest University of Economic Studies / ASE), as well the dynamic of the Middle East international relations. He organized international conferences and seminars, and summer schools that debated timely and controversial subjects regarding Middle East issues and their impact on the European area. He also authored and coordinated a number of news articles and scientific papers on energetic security, fighting terrorism, defense systems, international relations, and regional development. He coordinates projects aiming at better understanding the cultural, social, and political diversity of the Middle East, removing stereotypes and promoting better relations between the EU and Middle East countries. Previously, he used to focus on AfPak issues. He holds a B.A. in Military Science and Organizational Management, a B.A. in Law and an M.A. in Political Science, and a Swiss certificate as Political Adviser (POLAD). His areas of expertise and interests are Iranian nuclear deal / JCPOA; foreign policy of Iran; Russia’s strategy in the Middle East, particularly in Syria; China’s strategy in the Middle East; Syria Crises -reconstruction of Syria; economic sanctions and trade war in the Middle East.
Dr. Marius LAZĂR - Scientific Research Director
Dr. Marius LAZĂR, Scientific Research Director, is the Executive Director of the Center for Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Studies, Babes-Bolyai University (BBU), Cluj-Napoca. He is a Lecturer in the Department of International Studies and Contemporary History, Faculty of History and Philosophy, BBU, currently the recipient of Erasmus Mundus Post-doctoral fellowship, Department of History, Université de Sfax, Tunisia. Courses taught: International Relations in 20th and 21st centuries, History and Geopolitics of the Middle East; History and Geopolitics of the Caucasus and of the Central & South Asia. Ph.D. in International Relations, BBU; MA in Geopolitics, Institut Français de Géopolitique, Université Paris 8, France; DEA in French Philosophy, Babes-Bolyai University; BA in Philosophy, BBU. Authored studies for academic journals and international conferences on International Relations, Islamic Studies, History of the Middle East; members of various academic bodies (e.g. Cercle des Chercheurs sur le Moyen-Orient/ Middle East Researchers, Paris – Bruxelles).
Dr. Răzvan MUNTEANU - Strategic Analyst and Project Manager
Dr. Răzvan MUNTEANU, Strategic Analyst and Project Manager, holds a Ph.D. in Middle East studies and authored several books and articles in the field of political science and international relations. His research areas include geopolitics, foreign affairs, and security studies and the main topics of interest related to MENA are especially the Persian Gulf region, Türkiye, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Israel. He is also the General Director of the Romanian publication newsint.ro, and President of the Romanian think-tank Chamber of Excellence in International Affairs (CEIA).
Iulian MAREȘ - Senior Researcher
Mr. Iulian MAREȘ, Senior Researcher at MEPEI and a PhD Candidate, holds a BA in Sociology and a MA in European Studies and Community Law. His work experience covers both the fields of journalism and banking. He has been involved in the organizing teams of various conferences and workshops addressing the Middle East and Africa region, with a focus on topics related to international business and economics. His current research interests follow the guidelines of good governance and sustainable development in the MENA region, also in the Balkans.
Prof. Zafar Nawaz JASPAL - Nonresident Fellow
Prof. Zafar Nawaz JASPAL, Nonresident Fellow, is an Islamabad-based analyst and meritorious professor of International Relations at SPIR, Quaid-i-Azam University and an advisory Board Member of the Institute for East-West Strategic Studies (RIESS), affiliated with Oxford University, U.K. E-mail: jaspal_99@hotmail.com, X: @zafar_jaspal.
Dr. Nawar AL-SAADI - Senior Research Fellow
Dr. Nawar AL-SAADI, Senior Research Fellow, is currently serving as a faculty member at Al-Nahrain University in Baghdad and as the Director of the Research Center at Cihan University – Duhok. He has over 16 years of experience in international economic development, with a strong background in policy analysis, marketing, and financial strategy. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with international organizations including the ILO and UNICEF, contributing to major programs focused on economic growth and labor market reform. His research interests include Middle East economies, international trade dynamics, and sustainable development strategies.
Larisa-Nicoleta PĂTRAȘCU - Junior Researcher
Ms. Larisa-Nicoleta PĂTRAȘCU is a Junior Researcher at the Middle East Political and Economic Institute (MEPEI). Her research and professional interests center on peacebuilding, diplomacy and conflict resolution, international cooperation, and MENA geopolitics. She has an excellent academic record, obtaining a bachelor's degree in International Relations and European Studies from SNSPA and pursuing her master's degree at the University of Bucharest, which she completed with an Erasmus mobility at the Sapienza University of Rome. In her academic work, she focuses on critical areas such as geopolitics, Arab studies, and the law of armed conflict.
Alessandro RICCI - Junior Researcher
Mr. Alessandro RICCI, PhD Candidate, is Associated Junior Researcher at MEPEI. He holds a MA in Sciences of Languages, History, and Cultures of Mediterranean and Islamic Countries at the University of Naples “l’Orientale”. His primary academic interests are Middle East and Mediterranean politics, political Islam, and international relations. Currently, he is enrolled in a Second Level Master’s Degree in Geopolitics and Global Security at the “Sapienza” University of Rome.