Dr. Christian Koch participated in a discussion with Dr. Saad Bin Tiflah Al-Ajmi, former Kuwaiti Minister of Information, held at the Konrad-Adenuer-Foundation in Berlin, Germany. Dr. Al-Ajmi spoke about “Secularism or Failure – The Future of the Middle East” with Dr. Koch providing some comments followed by a general discussion. The event was sponsored by the German-Arab Friendship Society.
Dr. Christian Koch gave a lecture to the 17th New Issues in Security Course (NISC) held at the Geneva Center for Security Policy on "The Gulf States and Iran: What Future?". The presentation was part of a focus on “State Building and Transition in the Middle East and North Africa” held in the course which featured 24 participants. The lecture was followed by an open discussion and question and answer period.
Dr. Mohamed Abdel Raouf, Program Manager – GRC Environmental Security and Sustainability Program, participated in the Second United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 2), which took place at UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya on 23-27 May 2016. Dr. Raouf represented the Science and Technology Major Group in various sessions and meetings attended by the current and the new Executive Director of UNEP as well as the UNEA President. The Gulf Research Center participated in the meeting in its current capacity as the Global Focal Point of the Science and Technology Major Group of UNEP.
Dr. Christian Koch met with H.E. Dr. Awwad Alawwad, Ambassdor of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Germany, in Berlin. In their meeting, they discussed the status of relations between Germany and Saudi Arabia as well cooperation between the Embassy and the Gulf Research Center. Dr. Koch informed the Ambassador of the activities of the GRC and provided an overview of the GRC’s objectives and future plans.
Dr. Mohamed Abdel Raouf, Program Manager – GRC Environmental Security and Sustainability Program, participated in the Science and Policy Forum, a pre-meeting for the second United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA 2), which took place at UNEP Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya on 19-20, May 2016. The Gulf Research Center participated in the meeting in its current capacity as the Global Focal Point of the Science and Technology Major Group of UNEP.
Dr. Christian Koch, Director of the GRC Foundation in Geneva, participated as an expert in the Geneva Center for Security Policy’s Leadership in International Security Course, a course designed to increase the conceptual and leadership skills of high-performing professionals, who seek to address the world’s most pressing security challenges. Participants in the course prepared a 10-year strategic analysis report on “UAE version 2026: Towards a stable MENA” in their role as a Special Strategic Planning Unit for the President of the UAE with Dr. Koch evaluating their report and presentation and participating in a discussion about the report itself.
Dr. Koch also took part in a panel discussion entitled “Oil Addiction: Saudi Arabia” organized by the MENA Initiative of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (HEI) in Geneva. The event brought together students from the Graduate Institute to engage in a wide-ranging discussion on the political and economic dimensions of the oil debate in Saudi Arabia. Prof. Giacomo Luciani, a trustee of the Gulf Research Center Cambridge, also participated in the deba
