Gulf in the News – March 29, 2013

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Maria Pantelis

Whither GCC-US Relations?

Source: Gulf Research Center (Read full story)

The US-GCC relationship appears to be at a crossroads. Despite a long history of relations and a clear common and mutual interest in the stability and security of the Gulf region, the GCC states and the United States look as if they are growing apart on an almost daily basis. This is because on basically every issue of strategic importance and concern at the moment, the two sides are taking or have taken different positions. In this environment, the differences are growing rather than shrinking, an ominous development for the coming years.

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Model Arab League Update – March 2013

Posted on March 28, 2013 by NCUSAR

Student delegates cast a vote during the summit session at the Rocky Mountain Model Arab League.

The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations’ Model Arab League program saw the successful completion of two Models during March. University conferences were held in Spartanburg, South Carolina (March 15-17) and Salt Lake City, Utah (March 21-23). Below are a collection of stories detailing some schools’ experience at recent Models.

Additional Model Arab League conferences will continue to be held across the United States in April with five university conferences and two high school conferences on deck. Students and schools wishing to participate in the Model Arab League program this year or in future school years should contact the National Council’s Director of Student Programs Megan Geissler or Deputy Director of Student Programs Josh Hilbrand to learn how to get involved.

Converse Wins Southeast Model Arab League – Converse College News, March 21, 2013
UHCL Model Arab League delegation competes locally and nationally – The Citizen, March 14, 2013
GTCC to Participate in Model Arab League – Guilford Technical Community College News, March 11, 2013
Political Science Students Earn Honors at Model Arab League – John Carroll University News, March 4, 2013
UK’s biggest Model Arab League to convene – The Mancunion, March 4, 2013

Gulf in the News – March 27, 2013

Posted on March 27, 2013 by NCUSAR

Arab summit issues Doha Declaration

Source: The Gulf Today (Read full story)

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It also strongly condemned the Syrian regime’s use of heavy weapons, warplanes and Scud missiles to bomb the crowded residential areas. The declaration welcomed the takeover by the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces to Syria’s seat in the Arab League, its organisations, councils and organs. It emphasised the importance of efforts being taken in order to reach a political solution as a priority for the Syrian crisis, while stressing on the right of each member state, in accordance with its wish, to provide all means of self-defence, including military support to back the steadfastness of the Syrian people and the free army. The declaration also lauded the initiative of the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah to host an International Donors’ Conference for the Syrian people that was held on Jan.30, 2013.

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NCUSAR Organizes & Escorts a Delegation of Naval Academy Midshipmen on a Study Visit to the UAE

Posted on March 26, 2013 by NCUSAR

Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research

The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations, in coordination with the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), organized and led a May 11-20, 2012 study visit to the United Arab Emirates for the United States Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland. The Academy’s delegation was comprised of twelve Midshipmen and two faculty members. The visit provided the Midshipmen an opportunity to explore the dynamics of some of the major economic, political, and social determinants of UAE culture as well as the country’s modernization and development.

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Gulf in the News – March 25, 2013

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Maria Pantelis

GCC on track to become global powerhouse in manufacturing

Source: Khaleej Times (Read full story)

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The McKinsey report states that over the next 15 years another 1.8 billion people will enter the global consuming class and worldwide consumption will nearly double to $64 trillion. In the GCC region, manufacturing now contributes on average around 10 per cent to 15 per cent of GDP, clearly demonstrating the huge growth potential of the industry. The manufacturing sector’s contribution to the UAE’s overall GDP, in particular, reached Dh141.7 billion in 2011, growing by over 11 per cent from Dh127.6 billion in 2010.

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Summer Intensive Language Program at the Center for Cross Cultural Learning in Morocco

Posted on March 22, 2013 by NCUSAR

The National Council, in collaboration with The Center for Cross Cultural Learning (CCCL) for the summer of 2013, is pleased to announce its Summer Language Program in the Kingdom of Morocco. Students will spend six weeks in Rabat, the capital city of Morocco, taking part in an intensive Arabic language program. Students will spend four (4) hours each weekday in formal Modern Standard Arabic classes, as well as complete out-of-the-classroom assignments. Students at all levels of Arabic proficiency are encouraged to apply.

CCCL is a private institution and Morocco’s leading institution in study abroad education. CCCL was founded in 1995 by Moroccan experts in cross cultural learning and education; it is based in a 19th century Riad (traditional Moroccan house located in a historical quarter of the city) in the 17th century old medina of Rabat. CCCL premises have expanded as its programs continue to attract several educational and cultural institutions and schools to include two more buildings in and around the medina of Rabat. CCCL offers several classrooms, conferences rooms, a cafeteria for its participants only, a library of 4,200 books without counting the most valuable and exclusive collection of our students’ projects (over 700 projects).

CCCL organizes a variety of cultural and educational activities, which include language courses, seminars, and lecture series on Moroccan society and Arab and Islamic cultures. CCCL also sponsors art exhibits and musical performances and organizes educational excursions to various parts of Morocco both in urban and rural areas. The aim of these activities is to provide participants with opportunities to learn from the rich cultural diversity of Morocco and to better understand and appreciate the country’s cultural heritage. CCCL has 33 full time staff in addition to a long list of part-time guest speakers, university lecturers, travel guides, host families, instructors, and artists and music performers.

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Gulf in the News – March 22, 2013

Posted on March 22, 2013 by Mariam Klait

Oil, the US and the GCC

Source: Gulf Research Center (Read full story)

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Much will depend on how important security concerns continue to be in the region, relative to other dimensions of international relations. There is little doubt that interdependence between the GCC and other major Asian countries (notably China, India, and South Korea) will grow more intense, not just with respect to trade in hydrocarbons and other merchandise, but also in cross investment, movement of people, and technological and scientific cooperation. Such multidimensional interdependence will have an impact on the functioning of the crude oil markets, and may lead to a degree of regional segmentation, whereby the oil market will be less global and resemble more closely today’s gas market, rather than the other way around.

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Upcoming Event: “Rhetoric and Reality in Arab-U.S. Energy Relations” – April 11 in Washington, DC

Posted on March 21, 2013 by NCUSAR

On April 11, 2013, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations and the U.S.-GCC Corporate Cooperation Committee are hosting a public affairs briefing on “Rhetoric and Reality in Arab-U.S. Energy Relations” featuring Mr. John Hofmeister, Founder and Chief Executive of Citizens for Affordable Energy and former President of Shell Oil Company; Professor Paul Sullivan, Professor of Economics at National Defense University and Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University; and Ms. Randa Fahmy Hudome, President of Fahmy Hudome International and former Associate Deputy Secretary of Energy.