Middle East & North Africa

Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, continues his country’s ongoing communication campaign. After speaking at the Munich Security Conference, he stopped by the DGAP on February 3, to give a speech and answer questions from the audience. Zarif sought to parry concerns about his country’s nuclear activities, stating that nuclear arms would not be in Iran’s interest. Quite the contrary, they would undermine Iran’s security and its role in the region.

Twenty young researchers, media practitioners, policy makers, and civil society representatives from Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Turkey, and Europe gathered for the 19th New Faces conference in Rabat on November 15–17, 2013 to discuss current developments in the areas of media and freedom of expression. Four plenary sessions featured experts such as historian Maâti Monjib (Mohammed V University, Rabat) and the journalist and media expert Fatima el-Issawi (LSE).

In terms of security policy, the Syria question is making it possible for Russia to exit the sidelines it has occupied over the past few years. But to win back its influence and status as a power it needs allies. “Russians and Europeans have common interests in the Middle East,” says Trenin. “The conflicts surrounding Syria and Iran are bringing us together.” The director of the Carnegie Moscow Center discussed the meaning for Russia of the Syria conflict with Ewald Böhlke and invited guests.