Western governments are approaching a critical junction in regards to negotiations with the Islamic Republic of Iran’s controversial nuclear programme. Iranian intransigence and failure to comply with the IAEA recommendations to suspend their nuclear activities has led to sanctions being in place against the regime.
At this time, with no sign of a solution forthcoming, IMIA and Realite-EU are organising a timely conference to address the following issues: Are we heading for a military confrontation with Iran? Is there a way to avoid military action to resolve this conflict? What are the regional implications of confronting Iran?
The International Security Conference is to be held in The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, Abbey Room, London, SW1P 3EE on Wednesday 21st November 2007, 2-6.30pm. The Rt. Hon. Sir Malcolm Rifkin MP, Former Foreign Secretary is to be Guest of Honour.
This conference will provide an international perspective on the Iranian issue to give greater understanding and insight into the international complexities in dealing with Iran’s nuclear programme. Rt. Hon. Sir Malcolm Rifkin MP, Former Foreign Secretary will address the open the conference.
The title of the first session is: What Role Can Diplomacy Play in Avoiding Confrontation? The panel of speakers includes Patrick Mercer MP, Former Conservatives spokesman on Homeland Security, Dr. Victor Mizin, who worked on arms control, non-proliferation, and global security issues in the Russian Foreign Ministry. Franck Debie is the Chief Executive Director of the Foundation for Political Innovation, a think tank in Paris devoted to formulating French and European policies relation to geo-strategic threats. Michael Gayle is an experienced and leading American diplomat, currently working at the U.S Embassy in London. He is also a part of the ‘Iran Watch’ team for the US Administration.
The second session is: What are the regional implications of confronting Iran? This panel of speakers includes Richard Kemp CBE Former Head of British Military Intelligence, a member of COBRA. Dr. Mehrdad Khonsari, Senior Research Consultant to the London based, Centre for Arab and Iranian Studies and former Iranian Diplomat. Dr. Ronen Bergman PhD., One of Israel’s leading investigative journalists with Yediot Ahronot. He is an Iranian expert and an author. Zaki Chehab is one of the Arab world’s leading journalists. He is political editor of the London-based “Al Hayat” and of the Arabic TV channel LBC. For over 25 years he has covered Middle Eastern conflicts for local and Western media.
MP Patrick Mercer speaking about this conference said, “I believe this will be a thought-provoking and significant conference occurring at a crucial time in our relations with Iran and we must ensure that we find ways to resolve this conflict.”
Co-sponsor of the conference, Simon Barrett, director of International Media Intelligence Analysis, added “It is extremely important to host an International Conference on Iran at this critical time. We are calling for an international consensus that will stop Iran from requiring nuclear weapons to prevent a proliferation of nuclear weapons in an already dangerous and volatile region. We must ensure that nuclear material does not get into the hands of terrorist organisations.”
