Arabic-L:GEN:Mideast Wire Programs in Tunis and Istanbul

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Arabic-L: Wed 12 Mar 2014
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1) Subject: Mideast Wire Programs in Tunis and Istanbul

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1)
Date: 12 Mar 2014
From: Nicholas Noe <noe at mideastwire.com>
Subject: Mideast Wire Programs in Tunis and Istanbul

Mideastwire.com and its partners are pleased to announce a series of
Political Exchange Conferences this Spring & Summer and Arabic Courses in
Downtown Tunis:

* The Fifth Tunis Exchange June 10-June 22 (Deadline I for applications,
April 20)
* The Third Istanbul-Ankara Exchange June 22-July 4 (Deadline I for
applications, April 20)

The Exchanges will immerse our participants in the politics of the specific
country as well as the region, with a particular emphasis on direct
engagement with high-level academic, political, intellectual and religious
figures active across the spectrum.

TO REQUEST AN APPLICATION FOR ANY EXCHANGE, email: info at mideastwire.com

Note that tuition discounts are available for those applicants with
demonstrated need as well as for alumni of our previous Exchanges.
Furthermore, we can and will facilitate logistics for those students who
wish to attend both the Tunis Exchange and the Istanbul-Ankara Exchange
consecutively. For more information, please email info at mideastwire.com

*******************
Background on Six Years of the Exchange in the MENA Region:

The Exchange is an effort by Mideastwire.com and its partners to promote
direct engagement and understanding through a variety of city-focused
politics conferences.

The First Exchange was launched in June 2008 in Beirut, Lebanon. Now,
several years on, over 300 students from 45 different countries have
participated in 20 different Exchange programs across the region, with many
going on to work as diplomats in their home countries, for NGOs serving the
region and as social entrepreneurs.

The Exchange welcomes applications from current students as well as
professionals and post-professionals interested in better understanding the
Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and, we hope, their own country's
involvement in MENA.

To view previous Exchange itineraries in Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Tunis and
the Gulf, as well as media coverage of our efforts, visit
www.thebeirutexchange.com

LEARN ARABIC IN TUNIS! To inquire about this summer's Arabic courses
convened by our partner, Mohamed Labidi (labidim.tn at gmail.com) and the
Bosphore Academy in downtown Tunis next to our hotel (www.villa78tunis.com),
visit: http://bosphoreacademie.com/summerprogram.htm

*******************
THE FIFTH TUNIS EXCHANGE CONFERENCE
June 10-June 22, 2014
Application Deadline I April 20/Deadline II May 10
Limited spaces available/Rolling acceptance

As with our other Exchanges, the twelve-day program will engage students
from around the world in a multifaceted discussion of some of the key
issues facing Tunisia and the wider region. The Tunis Exchange program
specifically rests on three tracks this Summer.

Track 1: Academic Seminars. Participants will attend a series of lectures
with leading professors and public intellectuals in Tunisia. Topics will
include, among others:

- The history and internal transformations of Ennahda, including
organizational and ideological evolution since the revolution;

- The post-revolutionary evolution of the UGTT, Tunisia's powerful labor
union, and its role in politics (including implications of its role as
primary mediator in the National Dialogue of late 2013);

- Composition, platforms of, and alliances between major opposition parties
(including Jebha Chaabia, Nidaa Tounes, Hizb Joumhouri, and Afeq Tounes)
with a view toward the next elections;

- Prospects for the next elections, including composition and current
activities of the elections commission board, expected timeline of, and
possible challenges for the upcoming elections;

- State of the Tunisian economy, including regional inequalities, budget
transparency and decentralization, etc.;

- Institutional and legislative reform needs following the passage of
Tunisia's constitution, focusing particularly on reform of the Ministry of
Interior (security sector) and Ministry of Justice (judicial sector),
Tunisia's two most problematic ministries;

- Human rights in the new Tunisia (addressing issues such as freedom of
speech, freedom of conscience, status of women, use of torture and the
terrorism debate);

- Salafism, its composition (political, quietist, jihadi) in Tunisia and
its relationship to and implications for party politics, stability, and
governance moving forward;

- Taking stock of what Tunisia has done regarding transitional justice,
what steps are planned to realize the recently passed transitional justice
law, and what more needs to be done;

- The role of the media and civil society organizations;

- Youth politics and activism within and outside formal party structure.


Track 2: Dialogue with Leaders. Participants will have the opportunity to
meet, listen and engage leading social, political, religious and economic
leaders from across the spectrum in Tunisia.

Individual Speakers Have Previously Included (partial list only):
Abdelfattah Morou (Ennahda Party)
Rached Ghannouchi (Ennahda Party)
Mehrezia Laabidi (Ennahda Party)
Imed Dehmi (President, Congress for the Republic Party)
Taieb Bakkouche (Secretary General, Nidaa Tounes)
Hama Hammami (Popular Front)
Meriem Bourbuiba (Former Hizb Joumhouri)
Maya Jribi (Hizb Joumhouri)
Adnen Haji (UGTT, Leader of the 2008 uprising in Redeyef)
Mounir Ajroud (President, Leagues to Protect the Revolution)
Mohamed Belkhouja (President, Reform Front/Salafist Party)
Habib Kazdaghli (Manouba University)
Taieb Ghozi (Imam, Grand Mosque of Kairouan)
Michael Ayari (International Crisis Group)
Ahlem Belhaj (President, Tunisian Association of Democratic Women)
Kamel Laabidi (National Authority for Information and Communication Reform)
Amna Guellali (Director, Human Rights Watch)
Bochra Belhaj Hamidi (Lawyer)
Hamida Ennaifer (Co-founder, Islamic Tendency Movement)
Salaheddine Jourchi (Co-founder, Islamic Tendency Movement)
Youssef Seddik (Philosopher)
Fabio Merone (Researcher, Gerda Hinkel Foundation)
Radwan Masmoudi (Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy)
Amira Yahyaoui (Al-Bawsala)
Sihem Ben Sedrine (Transitional Justice Commission)
Slim Amamou (Blogger, Former Minister)
Yassine Ayari (Blogger, leading figure in the revolution)

Institutions Represented in Past Programs:
UGTT (Tunisian General Labour Union)
Jibha Chaabia (Popular Front)
Ennahda Party
Nidaa Tounes (Call for Tunisia)
Congress for the Republic (CPR)
Leagues to Protect the Revolution
Jibhat al-Islah (a leading Salafist party)
Ettakatol Party
Afeq Tounes Party
Hizb Joumhouri Party (formerly PDP)
Union of Tunisian Journalists
Committee to Protect Journalists
High Authority for Audio-Visual Communication (HAICA)
Nessma TV
Kalimat Radio
Nawaat
Ettounsia Newspaper
Tunisian Association of Democratic Women (Les Femmes Democrates)
Ministry of Women's Affairs
Human Rights Watch, Tunisia
Ministry of Transitional Justice and Human Rights
Tunisian Observatory for a Democratic Transition
Al-Bawsala (government monitoring NGO)
Tunisian League of Human Rights (LTDH)
Amnesty International, Tunisia
Tunisian Network for Social Economy
Tunisian-American Chamber of Commerce
Tunisian Association of Young Entrepreneurs
Governorates (meeting with governors of Sidi Bouzid, Gafsa and Sfax)
Manouba University
Tunis University
Ministry of Religious Affairs
Ministry of Finance
International Center for Transitional Justice
Tunisian Judges Association
Tunisian Lawyers Association

(To view previous schedules for the Tunis Exchanges, visit
www.thebeirutexchange.com)

Track 3: Two-Day Plenary Conference and Cultural Day June 13-15. Included
in the tuition for the program, Tunis exchange students will participate in
a two-day conference at the Ambassadeurs Hotel focusing on the upcoming
elections in Tunisia and the wider political situation in the region. The
conference will feature speeches and discussions led by a range of Tunisian
politicians, activists, intellectuals and academics, including but not
limited to (preliminary confirmations): Hamadi Jbeili, Kamal Morjane, Maya
Jreibi, Adnan Hajji, Lubna Jreibi, Meherzia Laabidi, Youssef Seddik,Sihem
Ben Saddrine, Hama Hammami and a number of other figures. Alumni of
previous Exchanges, as well as selected members of the general public, will
be invited to register for the two-day conference.

In order to encourage the most open discussion possible, the conference
will be held under Chatham House rules and will therefore be off the record
and closed to the press.

On Sunday June 15, Alumni of our previous programs are also invited to join
our current Tunis Exchange students for a cultural day organized with one
of the main arts/youth associations as well as the office of Deputy Speaker
of the Parliament Meherzia Laabidi, the highest ranking, female elected
official in MENA. Alumni and Tunis Exchange students will be hosted in a
traditional Tunisian house in the government district for a lunch and a
series of performances together with the government, NGO and diplomatic
community.

*******************
Program Format:
The Tunis Exchange will be held over twelve days total at the conference
room of The Ambassadeurs hotel in downtown Tunis. Students are expected to
stay at our hotel, Villa 78 (www.villa78tunis.com), located within five
minutes walking distance of The Ambassadeurs Hotel, or at The Ambassadeurs
Hotel itself (www.ambassadeurs-hotel.net/), unless permission for offsite
stay at alternative hotels or accommodations is requested, since most
meetings will take place in the conference room at The Ambassadeurs Hotel.

Off-site meetings during the twelve days will entail bus travel as a group
in and around Tunis, including to the National Assembly. At least three
days of the program (June 19, 20 and 21) will entail travel to other cities
and regions in Tunisia for meetings with local activists, intellectuals,
academics and political/religious leaders, including in Sidi Bouzid and
Sfax. The program will close at 12pm on Sunday, June 22 in Tunis.

Costs:
Tuition - $1600; Partial financial aid is available for those students and
individuals that can demonstrate need as well as alumni of our previous
programs. All bus travel, transportation from the airport on arrival and
other program costs associated with the full 12-day Exchange are included.

Accommodation - $540; Ten nights of the program will be spent in downtown
Tunis, while at least two nights will be spent at hotels outside of Tunis.
Room rates vary depending on arrangements, but generally fall within the
range of $45 per night, per student for a shared double room (breakfast and
taxes are included). Alternative accommodation, including in a single room,
is available upon request. Note that the $45 room rate is for stay at our
hotel, Villa78tunis.com, and at hotels in the south. A shared, double room
is priced at approximately $55 per night, per student at The Ambassadeurs
Hotel.

Airfare - $450, approximate from the European Union.

REQUEST AN APPLICATION via info at mideastwire.com
About the Exchange Co-Directors Nicholas Noe & Monica Marks (see below)

*******************
THE THIRD ISTANBUL-ANKARA EXCHANGE CONFERENCE
June 22-July 4, 2014
Application Deadline I April 20/Deadline II May 10
Limited spaces available/Rolling acceptance

REQUEST AN APPLICATION via: info at mideastwire.com

VIEW THE LAST ISTANBUL-ANKARA EXCHANGE PROGRAM (2013) via:
http://www.politicsinthefield.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/TurkeyExchange_January2013.pdf

*********************
Mideastwire.com and Politics In The Field are pleased to announce the Third
Istanbul-Ankara Exchange. The twelve-day conference June 22-July 4 will be
held over 10 days in Istanbul and two days in Ankara, immersing students
and professionals from around the world in some of the key issues facing
Turkey and the surrounding region. This year, there will be also be an
optional two-day cultural excursion July 5-6 to Edirne,* the former capital
of the Ottoman Empire.

The Istanbul-Ankara Exchange rests on two tracks:

Track 1: Academic Seminars. Participants will attend a series of seminars
with leading academics, journalists, business people and public
intellectuals. Topics will include (among others):

- Gezi Protests and social movements;
- AK Party and the Gulen Movement conflict;
- Political atmosphere ahead of the upcoming presidential and national
elections;
- The future of Turkey-EU and Turkey-US relations;
- Turkey and the Syrian Civil War;
- The Kurdish question and the Peace Process;
- Economic reform challenges now and on the horizon;
- Turkey's role in energy politics in the region;
- The AK Party in domestic and regional politics;
- Turkey's constitution and justice system;
- The status of women;
- Human rights and Internet/press freedoms under attack?
- Refugees in Turkey;
- Role of opposition parties.

Track 2: Dialogue with Leaders. Participants will have the opportunity to
meet and engage social, political, religious and economic leaders from
across the spectrum in Turkey.

Individual Speakers Have Previously Included (partial list only):
Tariq Al-Hashimi, Vice-President of Iraq
Mustafa Akyol, Star Daily
Talip Küçükcan, Foreign Policy Director, SETA
Cengiz Çandar, Radikal Daily
Hugh Pope, Turkey/Cyprus Program Director International Crisis Group
Ceyda Karan, Journalist
Joost Lagendijk, Analyst at Istanbul Policy Center - Today's Zaman
Bulent Kenes, Chief of Editor Today's Zaman
Fuat Keyman, Director of Istanbul Policy Center, Sabanci University
Diba Nigar Göksel, European Stabilty Initiative - GMF
Idris Kardas, General Coordinator Platform for Global Challenges
Hasan Köni, Istanbul Kültür Univeristy
Oğuz Demir, Istanbul Trade University, Economists Platform
Burcu Gültekin Punssman, Researcher TEPAV
Faik Tunay, Republican People's Party MP-CHP
Oktay Vural, Vice President of Nationalistic Movement Party Group
Nuh lmaz, Marmara University, Star Daily
Zeynep Baser, TESEV
Asaad Asaad, Chairman of Support Center of Psychological and Personal
Development of Syrian Refugees in Turkey
Murat Çekiç, Turkey Director of Amnesty International
Kemal Cicek, Turkish Historical Society
Mustapha Turkes, METU
Ersel Aydinli, Bilkent Universtiy
Arzu Celalifer, USAK
Aysegul Kibargoglu, OKAN University
Lale Kemal, Taraf Newspaper
Onur Oymen, MP-CHP
Yassar Yakis, Former Foreign Minister of Turkey
Suleyman Ozeren, Police Academy
Alper Sozen, Police Academy
Ozlem Tur, METU
Zita Onis, Koc University

Institutions Represented in Past Programs:
Prime Ministry
AK Party Foreign Affairs Presidency
Secretary General for EU Affairs
Prime Ministry, Housing Development Administration (TOKI)
Information Technologies and Communication Agency (BTK)
Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA)
Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD)
Hrant Dink Foundation
Neve Shalom Synagouge
Turkish Radio Television (TRT)
Municipality of Istanbul
Religious Affairs Presidency
Greek-Orthodox Patriarchy
Armenian Patriarchy

*******************
Program Format:
The first nine days of the Exchange will take place at a hotel in downtown
Istanbul (program opens at 6pm on June 22), although there will be several
bus trips to meetings arranged outside the conference center. After that,
two days of the Exchange will be spent in the capital, Ankara, where a
series of meetings with political and diplomatic leaders will be convened.
The final day of meetings on July 4 will be held in Istanbul at the hotel
(program closes by 6pm on July 4).

Costs:
Tuition - $1800. Partial financial aid is available for those students and
professionals that can demonstrate need, including being a current
recipient of financial aid.

Accommodation - $780. Our group rate is $65 per night, per person for a
shared double room, breakfast and all taxes included. Students residing in
Istanbul have the option of off-site stay during the duration of the
program. The hotel will be announced to those students accepted in the
program.

Airfare - $400 approximately from the EU. Bus travel to and from Ankara is
included in the overall tuition cost.

* Optional Cultural Excursion - $200. Participants will have the option of
joining us on a trip to Edirne, the former capital of the Ottoman Empire
before Istanbul located at the intersection between Turkey, Greece, and
Bulgaria. The additional cost for the excursion is $200 which includes bus
transportation, one hotel night stay and all meals and taxes. The group
will leave Istanbul early Saturday morning on July 5th and will return to
Istanbul by the early afternoon on Sunday, July 6th.

For more about all of our programs, visit:
www.thebeirutexchange.com and www.politicsinthefield.com

TO REQUEST AN APPLICATION email info at mideastwire.com

********************
About The Exchange Co-Directors:

Baybars Orsek (Istanbul-Ankara) holds his Bachelors degree in International
Relations from İstanbul Bilgi University and obtained a Masters degree
in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Sabancı University. He is
currently pursuing his PhD in Political Science at Yeditepe University.
After serving as a coordinator at Istanbul Bilgi University's Platform for
Global Challenges for two years, Orsek is currently acting as the Founder &
CEO of the Istanbul Solution Center and is General Coordinator of
Politicsinthefield.com.

Monica L. Marks (Istanbul-Ankara & Tunis) is a Rhodes Scholar and doctoral
candidate at St. Antony's College, Oxford University. Her work, which
focuses primarily on Islamism, youth politics, and security reform in
Tunisia, has appeared in the New York Times, Foreign Policy, and the
Huffington Post, as well as academic publications. As lead Tunisia
researcher for the Barcelona-based Institute for Integrated Transitions
(IFIT) in 2012-2013, Ms. Marks drafted "Inside the Transition Bubble," a
report analyzing international technical assistance flows to four key
sectors of Tunisia's transition. She is also the author of the Brookings
Doha Center's February 2014 analysis paper "Convince, Coerce, or
Compromise? Ennahda's Approach to Tunisia's Constitution."A former
Fulbright Scholar to Turkey, Ms. Marks returned there to work as an
instructor at Istanbul's Bogazici University in 2013 and again in 2014.
Despite frequent trips to Oxford and to Turkey, Ms. Marks is based in
Tunisia, where she has also moonlighted as a freelance journalist for the
New York Times, covering the September 2012 attack on the US Embassy, the
February, 2013 assassination of Chokri Belaid, and other breaking stories.

Ferdi Ferhat Özsoy (Istanbul-Ankara) was born in New York City, in 1985.
 He received his undergraduate diploma from City University of New York at
Brooklyn College where he triple majored in History, Political Science and
Education. He is currently completing his MA on International Relations at
Istanbul Bilgi University and is working at the Platform for Global
Challenges at Istanbul Bilgi University as an Organization Coordinator,
organizing seminars, conferences and panels on foreign affairs. He is also
a member of the Politics in the Field team.

Nicholas Noe (Istanbul-Ankara, Tunis & Beirut) is the editor of the 2007
book, Voice of Hezbollah: The Statements of Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah
(Verso), Co-Founder & Editor-in-Chief of the Beirut-based news translation
service Mideastwire.com covering the Middle East media and the Director of
The Exchange program which now counts more than 300 student alumni from 45
different countries. He regularly provides commentary for Al-Jazeera
International, BBC, CNN and several US and European publications and is the
author of a White Paper for the Century Foundation entitled: "Re-Imagining
the Lebanon Track: Towards a New US Policy." His Op-Eds on the region have
appeared in The New York Times, The Guardian, Foreign Policy Magazine, Asia
Times, The National and The National Interest.

Yamen Soukkarieh (Tunis & Beirut) is the co-founder of the Beirut Exchange
program. Since graduating in 1999 with a Communication Arts Degree from the
Lebanese American University in Beirut, he has worked as a producer and
cameraman for numerous Lebanese and international films, media productions,
documentaries and journalists including CNN, Arte and Al-Jazeera among
others.

********************

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