United Nations (UN)
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Eugene Rogan on Arab History and the Arab Spring
''The Subordination of the Arab World May Be Ending''
Eugene Rogan's "The Arabs" has been hailed as a standard work on the history of the Arab people. In this interview with Jan Kuhlmann, the Oxford historian talks about foreign domination of the Arab world, the Arab spring, and his optimism for the Arab world
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Javier Solana on Finding a Solution to the Syrian Conflict
Towards a Syria Consensus
In this commentary, Javier Solana, former foreign minister of Spain and secretary-general of NATO, considers the impact that a possible overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would have on the entire region and reflects on the steps that could be taken to set in motion a chain of events that could lead to a transition of power in Syria
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Syria, Libya and the ''Responsibility to Protect''
Don't Look Away
Because of violent conflicts in Libya and Syria, international law lawyers, experts in peace and conflict studies, and politicians are once again discussing the concept of Responsibility to Protect (R2P). The big question is what kind of military intervention or other response is appropriate at what point. By Peter Hauff
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Democratisation Processes in Historic Comparison
Arab Nations Are No Longer Onlookers
In the view of Paul Salem, Director of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, Arab nations are assuming a leading role in the promotion of democratisation. They are no longer, as has been the case in past decades, just looking on from afar
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Interview with the Jewish Palestinian Politician Ilan Halevi
With One Foot in the UN
In this interview, Palestinian politician Ilan Halevi describes the hurdles that have to be overcome on the road to statehood and speaks of the rapprochement and the animosity between Fatah and Hamas. Igal Avidan spoke to him at a conference organised by the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Berlin
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Afghanistan Conference in Bonn
Pakistan Is Critical to Any Settlement
The international community met this week in Bonn to discuss its strategy in Afghanistan from now until the West's withdrawal in 2014. Representatives of about 90 states travelled to Germany for the conference. According to Ahmed Rashid, Pakistan plays a critical role in Afghanistan, and its decision to boycott the Bonn conference was a serious mistake
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Full UNESCO Membership for Palestine
A Small, Albeit Costly, Victory
Despite opposition from the US, Palestine has been accepted as a full member by UNESCO. On Monday, 107 members voted in favour, 14 voted against and 52 abstained. It was the right decision say Bettina Marx
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Interview with the Israeli Historian Moshe Zimmermann
''One Has to Be in Favour of the UN Resolution''
According to Moshe Zimmermann, the Israeli government is opposed to anything that could lead to the foundation of a Palestinian state. Susanne Knaul spoke to the historian
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Interview with the Egyptian Historian Khaled Fahmy
''The Army Lacks a Vision for the Future''
The recent protests in Egypt have focussed attention on the country's army and its conflicted relationship with the revolution of 25th January. Hani Darwish discussed the issue with the historian Khaled Fahmy in Cairo