In the fourth podcast in our series, In The Zone, Anahita Parsa and Paul Ingram interview Ambassador Karim Haggag from Egypt, a career diplomat with over 25 years of service, who is now a professor of practice at the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the American University in Cairo. In this interview, the Ambassador talks about how he developed his interest in regional disarmament, the sense of injustice with which the international community responds to the issue of proliferation in the Middle East, Egypt’s concerns when it comes to any country possessing WMD, how states could be incentivised to form the WMD-Free Zone, the prospects for progress under the Biden Administration, and how the recently signed Abraham Accords may provide an opportunity for Israel and the United States to engage in the UN-mandated process to negotiate a WMDFZ treaty.
Continue reading “In The Zone – Episode 4 – Karim Haggag”The Middle East: Is there light at the end of the Long Corridor?
Marc Finaud, Tony Robinson, and Mona Saleh[i]
Recent developments in the Middle East and the arrival of the Biden administration offer unique opportunities to improve regional security. However, obstacles on the way to such progress have far from disappeared.
Continue reading “The Middle East: Is there light at the end of the Long Corridor?”In The Zone – Episode 3 – Tariq Rauf
In the third podcast in our series, “In The Zone”, Anahita Parsa and Paul Ingram interview Tariq Rauf from Canada, who was the former Head of the Verification and Security Policy Coordination Office at the International Atomic Energy Agency, among many other important roles in the disarmament field. In this interview, Rauf talks about how he developed his interest in the region, the benefits of establishing a WMD-Free Zone there, how states can be incentivised to form one, the technical obstacles to it, the cynicism that frequently confronts those efforts, and what we can expect from the incoming Biden Administration in the USA.
Continue reading “In The Zone – Episode 3 – Tariq Rauf”METO emphasises the importance of human security in the Brown Journal of World Affairs
In a paper recently published in the Brown Journal of World Affairs, the biannual academic journal of international relations and foreign policy produced at Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University, METO directors Sharon Dolev, Emad Kiyaei and Tony Robinson make the case for advancing in areas of human security across the region as a way of building a regional identity which can support the creation of conditions for the WMD-Free Zone.
Continue reading “METO emphasises the importance of human security in the Brown Journal of World Affairs”In The Zone – Episode 2 – Dr Tarja Cronberg
In the second podcast in our series, “In The Zone”, Anahita Parsa and Paul Ingram interview Dr Tarja Cronberg from Finland, former MEP and current distinguished associate fellow at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, about the benefits of a WMD-Free zone, how to get all states of the region talking to one another, regional cynicism, her new book “Renegotiating the Nuclear Order”, and the prospects for women in the field of security.
Continue reading “In The Zone – Episode 2 – Dr Tarja Cronberg”“In the Zone” podcast series launched
A busy 2021 kicks off for METO with the launch of a new podcast series which aims to explore some of the constructive approaches that improve the chances of achieving a WMD free-zone in the Middle East. Once every two weeks our guests, who are experts in their fields, will be asked about how to dodge the obstacles, how to build trust between countries and how to improve peace and security for people in the region. The interviews will be conducted by our director, Paul Ingram and our programme associate, Anahita Parsa.
Continue reading ““In the Zone” podcast series launched”METO partnership with World BEYOND War
As part of METO’s strategy to reach out and partner with likeminded organizations working in fields of mutual concern, we are delighted to announce a partnership with World BEYOND War (WBW).
Continue reading “METO partnership with World BEYOND War”METO statement on the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh
Date: 28/11/2020
The Middle East Treaty Organization (METO) condemns in the strongest terms the assassination of the Iranian scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh as reported in the media today. Iran has alleged that this crime has been carried out by Israeli agents, and other reports suggest that it has possibly been condoned by the out-going US Administration of Donald Trump.
Continue reading “METO statement on the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh”Interview with the founders of the Middle East Treaty Organization
The Middle East Treaty Organization (METO), according to its shiny new website, has a vision of a peaceful, integrated and thriving Middle East built on human and environmental security and a mission to eradicate WMDs, broker peace and build security in the Middle East. After years of participating in conferences as a campaign under the wing of different partner organisations, METO, under the direction of the Israeli, Sharon Dolev, the Iranian, Emad Kiyaei and the Brit, Paul Ingram took advantage of the Covid lockdown in order to turn itself into a registered organisation. Pressenza, which has been following METO’s development since 2018, took the opportunity to interview METO’s original founders Sharon, Paul and Emad about the past, present and future. For the purposes of full disclosure, the interviewer Tony Robinson, is also a director of METO having been brought in to help out with back office functions and communications.
Continue reading “Interview with the founders of the Middle East Treaty Organization”METO statement on the impending Entry into Force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
Date: 24/10/2020
The Middle East Treaty Organization (METO) extends its warmest congratulations to the governments of all those states that have ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), a treaty which prohibits the development, testing, production, acquisition, possession, stockpiling, use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. Under the terms of the treaty, the treaty will come into force in 90 days from today.
Continue reading “METO statement on the impending Entry into Force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons”