The Arab Diplomatic Surge: Causes, Effects & Prospects/ June 14, 2007

Speakers:
Ghayth Armanazi, Director of the Syrian Media Centre and former head of the Arab League in London
Michael Binyon, Times editorial writer
Ian Black, Guardian Middle East editor
H.E. Gehad Madi, Egyptian Ambassador to the UK

Chair:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean
Former Minister of State at the Foreign Office

The year of the 40th anniversary of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, and Israel's subsequent occupation, has seen unprecedented Arab diplomatic activity. The Arab League has re-launched its momentous plan for Arab-Israeli peace, with countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Qatar at the forefront. As well as Syrian overtures towards Israel and Iraq, Saudi Arabia is gaining an ever-higher profile vis-à-vis the region's multiple conflicts such as Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine and Iran. The Arab Gulf states increasingly find themselves at the centre of the growing confrontation between the US and Iran. There are increased efforts to solve the crises in Sudan and Somalia - fromcountries such as Libya, Egypt and Yemen - and renewed efforts regarding Western Sahara and Morocco.