ELIAMEP has launched a new Programme on Middle Eastern Studies. The Programme will aim to offer insight and knowledge about developments in the broader Middle East to the Greek foreign policy community and public opinion. In its first year of operation, it will focus on the role and foreign policy of four major countries in the region: Egypt, Iran, Israel and Turkey. We aim to publish a series of policy papers and shorter essays in the series of ELIAMEP THESIS and Working Papers, and to organize an international conference at the fall of 2010 on Europe’s role in the Middle East. A number of young, yet already established, researchers and analysts will be active in the framework of ELIAMEP’s Programme of Middle Eastern Studies. Namely:

(1)   Dr. Yiannis Grigoriadis, Assistant Professor, Bilkent University, Ankara and Research Associate, ELIAMEP, will be working on Turkey’s relations with and role in the Middle East, as well as the role of Islam on regional states’ foreign policy

(2)   Dr. Evangelos Venetis, a researcher at the Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, TCMO Institute, University of Leiden and Research Associate, ELIAMEP, will focus on Iranian foreign policy, Iran’s role and influence in the Gulf region and the Middle East and the prospects for Greek-Iranian relations

(3)   Dr. Stephanos Vallianatos, International Relations Department, Hellenic Foundation for Culture and Research Associate, ELIAMEP, will study Egypt’s regional role and Greek-Egyptian relations

(4)   Ms. Maria Ververidou, Expert at the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Research Associate, ELIAMEP, will examine the economic activities of Turkey in the Middle East

(5)   Mr. Pantelis Touloumakos, PhD candidate, Univ. of Thessaloniki, and Junior Research Associate, will study the concept of neo-ottomanism, with a special focus on minorities, and Turkey’s regional role

Other experts from Greece and the region will be invited to contribute to the Programme’s activities. The Programme will be coordinated by Dr. Thanos Dokos, Director-General of ELIAMEP, who will also be working on issues such nuclear proliferation in the Middle East, and the role of Israel, EU’s and NATO’s regional initiatives.

Planned deliverables for 2010 include 3 Policy Papers, 2 ELIAMEP THESIS and at least three Working Papers, as well as an edited volume. The Programme’s associates will be expected to contribute on a regular basis to ELIAMEP’s Blog on issues of their expertise.

Other activities under consideration include a bilateral meeting of strategic dialogue between Greek and Iranian think-tanks and similar meetings with think-tanks from other key countries from the region and joint initiatives with other European think-tanks. Emphasis will also be given to the strengthening of existing relationships and the exploration of opportunities for cooperation with networks and selected institutes in the Middle East and the EU with similar research interests: for example, the Arab Reform Initiative (ARI), the successor network to EuroMeSCo, the Al-Jisr Project (a joint initiative between the EU and the Gulf countries), and the German Marshall Fund of the US’s (GMFUS) Mediterranean Studies Programme. An effort will also be made to link some of the Programme’s activities with the Halki International Seminars. Finally, high priority will be given to seeking additional funding to secure the continuation and expansion of the Programme.