Annual International Conference (Hybrid Format): The 10th Forum “Integration and Interdependency of the Middle East Region in the Light of Political, Security, and Economic Transformations”

Venue: Grand Hotel Bucharest 5*, Rapsodia Conference Hall (1^st Floor), Blvd. Nicolae Bălcescu, nr.4 (Piața Universității), Sector 1, Bucharest

Organizers:

• MEPEI (Middle East Political and Economic Institute), Romania;
• EuroDefense Romania.

Partners:

• IPIS (Institute for Political and International Studies IPIS/MoFA, Iran);
• IFIMES (International Institute for the Middle East and Balkan Studies);
• Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Romania;
• Belt and Road Initiative Research Lab, Romania;
• Amersi Foundation (UK).

Media Partners:

• Modern Diplomacy (https://moderndiplomacy.eu/);
• Financial Intelligence (https://financialintelligence.ro/);
• Novus Ordo Media (https://novusordomedia.ro/).

Working language: English (no translation)

Time Zone: Bucharest

Participants: Representatives of think-tanks, the diplomatic corps (international and national), and mass media.

The Conference is held during a turning point in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) politics. In October 2023, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict heated, having the potential to disrupt the entire security architecture and global realities, in a world already tormented by conflicts. There was also a considerable risk for an all-out war in the Middle East. In this sense, many diplomatic efforts were conducted in order to mitigate tensions. The Conference notes the dangerous potential for escalation into a regional turmoil, in context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and many aggravated international implications. In this tense realm, the United States of America, the Russian Federation, and the People’s Republic of China are competing for either maintaining or expanding global influence.

With the traditional divisions, many intricated exogenous interests and new tendencies, the MENA region is at the forefront of debates once again. Many MENA countries are striving to build resilience in an imminent post-oil economic era, facing a volatile oil market, large-scale inflation, and an emergent economic system less dependent on the USD financial environment. A renewed Iranian Nuclear Deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action/JCPOA) and its impact on the stability of the region needs to be explored, especially under the new Presidency. Addressing the pressure on emerging economies of the region and on its young generations is also important. Recent dynamics like increased political dialogue, enhanced relations for Saudi Arabia and Iran, multilateral formats (SCO, BRICS+) provide new and significant opportunities for this unsettled region within an anticipated multipolar world.

The Conference provides a venue for various points of view, while focusing on dialogue and cooperation that would help overcome conflicts, migration crises, economic struggles, strengthening resilience and building bridges between the public and private sector. Simultaneously, it offers the chance to interact with researchers and diplomats from the region, and acknowledge, empower the voice of the youth.

AGENDA

08:30 – 09:30 Registration and Welcome Coffee/Tea

09:30 – 09:50 Official Opening and Welcome Remarks

09:50 – 10:30 Keynote Speeches

10:30 – 12:00 Session I: The Approach of Great and Emerging Powers on Regionalism, Political and Security in the Middle East

This session addresses the manner in which external powers play their roles in the region, while the regional actors seek a more sustainable equilibrium, building resilience and aiming for a restructuration of the current narratives.

Subtopics: the shaping of the new World Order; the competing narratives of Global South vs Global North; the potential of an all-out war in the Middle East; the impact of Ukraine War on Middle East issues

12:00 – 12:30 Coffee/Tea Break and Networking

12:30 – 14:00 Session II: Independence and Sovereignty: Outside Interference, Status, Logical and Real Solutions to the Historical Crises. The Latest Developments in the Gaza Strip

This session tackles the latest developments in the dramatic situation of the Gaza Strip. The issue of Palestine and ongoing conflict including 7 October events that have taken a great toll on civilians, their rights, infrastructure and future of the region.

Subtopics: non-state actors at war; solutions for Gaza crisis; international legal order; sovereignty

14:00 – 15:00 Lunch offered by the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Romania

15:00 – 16:30 Session III: Regional Approaches towards Reconciliation, Energy and Trade Corridors

The panel proposes new avenues of cooperation in the contemporary context, focusing on the energy components, supplies, goods transfer and interest for mutual investments.

Subtopics: energy connectivity corridors – East Asia, Central Asia, South Caucasus, Middle East/West Asia, Europe (Belt & Road Initiative, India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, Development Road, Middle Corridor, etc.); transit roots for goods and supplies, and combating terrorism.

16:30 – 17:00 Coffee Break/Tea and Networking

17:30 – 18:15 Session IV: Asia’s Century Project – Understanding of the West Asia’s Potential in the BRICS+ and SCO

This session emphasizes on the role of Asia in an emerging international context, with focus on its imprint in the extended Middle East, dedicating attention to new multilateral formats that have Asia on board, hereby including economic aspects.

Subtopics: The prospects of Asian cooperation in the Middle East; BRICS Summit; Iran and other possible admissions to SCO; economic transactions in Asian and local currencies.

18:15 Conclusions and Final Remarks

Speakers

1. The Islamic Republic of Iran
2. HE Dr. Muhammad Hassan Shaykh al-ISLAMI, President of Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, MoFA – TBC on-site/on-line;
3. HE Dr. Khalil SHIRGHOLAMI, Deputy Director General for Research, Institute for Political and International Studies;
4. HE Dr. Ali Beman Eghbali ZARCH, Director of Eurasia Study Group, Institute for Political and International Studies;
5. Nabi SONBOLI, Senior Expert, Institute for Political and International Studies;
6. HE Esmaeil Baghaei HAMANEH, Senior Expert, Institute for Political and International Studies, former Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Office at Geneva;
7. Kayhan BARZEGAR, Senior Academic Advisor at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Professor at the Islamic Azad University / Tehran;
8. Hassan AHMADIAN, Professor of Middle East Studies, University of Tehran;
9. Farideh Mohammad ALIPOUR, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Kharazmi University, Tehran.

From the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Romania

1. HE Dr. Seyed Hossein Sadat MEIDANI, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Romania

International

1. Robert MOGIELNICKI (USA), Senior Resident Scholar, The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington (AGSIW);
2. Seyed Hossein MOUSAVIAN (USA), Middle East Security and Nuclear Policy Specialist at the Program on Science and Global Security at Princeton University;
3. Ali NOURI (USA), Lecturer with the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Former Deputy Assistant to President Biden and Deputy Director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs;
4. Negar MORTAZAVI (USA), Journalist and Political Analyst;
5. H.E. Dr. Imad MOUSTAPHA (Syria), Dean, Diplomatic Institute of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Former Ambassador to USA and China;
6. Vasily KUZNETSOV (Russia), Head of the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Head of the Department of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Oriental Faculty of the State Academic University for the Humanities, the Russian Federation – online;
7. Alexey KLEBNIKOV (Russia), Expert on Middle East Issue, Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), the Russian Federation – online;
8. NIU Xinchun (China), Academic Vice President and Executive Director of the China-Arab Research Institute, Ningxia University; Council Member, Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs;
9. QIN Tian (China), Assistant Director of Institute of Middle East Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR);
10. LI Jun (China), Research Professor of Institute of European Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR);
11. Mohamed AMERSI (UK), Founder and Chairman, the Amersi Foundation;
12. Gen. (Ret.) Carlos BRANCO (Portugal), Assistant Researcher, National Defense Institute;
13. Kawa HASSAN (the Netherlands/Iraq), Nonresident Fellow, MENA Program, Stimson Center;
14. Taha ÖZHAN (Türkiye), Research Director, Ankara Institute, Ankara;
15. Abdul Halim FADLALLAH (Lebanon), Chairman, the Consultative Center for Studies and Documentation, Beirut;
16. Amina KHAN (Pakistan), Director Centre for Afghanistan, Middle East & Africa, the Institute of Strategic Studies (ISSI), Islamabad;
17. Dr. Zafar N. JASPAL (Pakistan), School of Politics and International Relations, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad;
18. Luciano ZACCARA (Qatar), Research Associate Professor in Gulf Politics, Qatar University;
19. HE Dr. Saroja SIRISENA (Sri Lanka/UK), Former Ambassador and Director, Quest Consulting;
20. Gen. (Retd.) BK SHARMA, AVSM, SM (India), Director General, United Service Institution of India;
21. Yousuf Al-BULUSHI (Oman), Researcher in Gulf and Regional Security, Muscat PEC;
22. Yasmeen Al-ERYANI (Yemen), Co-Executive Director, Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies;
23. Hassan al-MUSTAFA (Saudi Arabia), Researcher and Journalist, Riyadh;
24. Desirée CUSTER (Belgium/Germany/the Netherlands), Project Manager in CARPO (Center for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient), Bonn;
25. Maria Luisa FANTAPPIÉ (Italy), Head of the Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa Programme, Istituto Affari Internazionali, Roma;
26. Isabella ZAIDAN (Syria), Member of the Scientific Research Council, Al-Sham Private University, National Union of Syrian Students;
27. Akmaral BATALOVA (Kazakhstan), expert on Middle East issues and film producer;
28. Representative of Egypt, the Strategic Studies Centre of Armed Forces;
29. Representative of Kuwait.

Youth generation

1. Farah Al-ERYANI (Yemen/Romania), intern at MEPEI, and Master at University of Bucharest;
2. Anda COSTEA (Romania), intern at MEPEI, and Master at University of Bucharest;
3. Alex Nader BAKRI (Romania), Junior Researcher at MEPEI, and Researcher at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Cluj-Napoca;
4. Hasani PEYMAN (Iran), Ph.D. Student, International Law at Shahid Behshti University, Tehran.

Romania

1. Adrian SEVERIN, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs; Former President of the Parliament Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe;
2. Teodor MELEȘCANU, former Minister of Foreign Affairs;
3. Ambassador, Lt. Gen. (Ret), Cosmonaut Dumitru-Dorin PRUNARIU, Chair of the Global Expert Group on Sustainable Lunar Activities;
4. HE Mr. Viorel ISTICIOAIA-BUDURA, Former Ambassador of Romania to the People’s Republic of China, Former Head of the European Union delegation to Japan, Managing Director, Head of Asia and Pacific Department, European External Action Service;
5. Flavius CABA-MARIA, President, MEPEI, Bucharest;
6. Monica SURUGIU, Vice-President, Bucharest;
7. Liviu MUREŞAN, President, EuroDefense Romania;
8. Ecaterina MAȚOI, Program Director at MEPEI;
9. emerita Mariana NICOLAE, Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE);
10. Andrei RĂDULESCU, Member of Bretton Woods Committee, Senior Researcher, Institute for World Economy, Romanian Academy;
11. Alexandru GEORGESCU, Secretary-General, EuroDefense Romania;
12. Marius NEACȘU, Chief of Department, Bucharest University of Economic Studies (ASE);
13. Iulian MAREȘ, Strategic Analyst, MEPEI, Bucharest.