Gulf and Middle Eastern Security - Press
- 07 February 2012 - - Wall St Journal - America Exits Syria as Russia Makes Push
"After being hammered so much by so many other countries, they need to regain some of their luster, and so they have to go to Damascus and prove they aren't whitewashing Assad's crimes and oppression," said Emile Hokayem, a Middle East analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Bahrain. "The question is whether the Russians are willing to use whatever goodwill they've got in Damascus to push the regime."
- 07 February 2012 - - Guardian - Syria on brink of civil war as diplomacy fails to dislodge Assad
Emile Hokayem, Middle East analyst at the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS), in London, said: "Whether the Turks are confident with that role, and how overt or covert it is, are key considerations." Sinan Ülgen, a former Turkish diplomat now at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said Ankara's preferred option would be regional support for limited Nato operations, including a no-fly zone and humanitarian corridor. "Turkey is beyond the point of no return," he said.
- 02 February 2012 - IISS Experts' Commentary - The EU and the Iranian nuclear issue
By Dina Esfandiary, Research Analyst and Project Coordinator, Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Programme
- 02 February 2012 - - Reuters - IAEA, Iran to meet again after ''good'' talks
Proliferation expert Mark Fitzpatrick described Nackaerts' statement about more meetings as a positive sign.
"The IAEA would not be scheduling another trip unless they had an expectation of progress in clearing away at least some of the questions about suspicious past nuclear activity," said Fitzpatrick, a director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
- 31 January 2012 - - Bloomberg - Syrian Opposition Council Backed by U.S. Hindered by Divisions
Members of the SNC who arent part of the Sunni Muslim majority are not dominant figures among their community inside Syria, weakening their influence, according to Emile Hokayem, a senior fellow for regional security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a Washington policy group. Hokayem spoke at a briefing shortly after returning from meetings with Syrian loyalists and opponents in Lebanon.
- 31 January 2012 - - Time - Clinton and Russia Spar Over U.N. Resolution on Syria
Assad has done an effective job of using tribal and ethnic strife to keep Syrian opposition fragmented. The insurgency is picking up steam, popular support. It is becoming a potent challenger to the Assad forces. It has mounted a few spectacular operations recently, and I expect more, said Emile Hokayem, a senior fellow for Middle East regional security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
- 30 January 2012 - - Reuters - Gulf Arabs have plans against Hormuz closure-official
"In any navy plan that exists there would be plans for swift coordination to de-mine areas that might have been mined... Or act in coordination preemptively or reactively to prevent Iranian small vessels disrupting shipping," Christian Le Miere, research fellow for naval forces and maritime security at the International Institute for Strategic Studies said.
- 29 January 2012 - - Agence France Press - Iran hosts UN watchdog on nuclear tensions
"Sanctions have not eliminated Iran's capacity or desire to continue developing its nuclear programme," said Dina Esfandiary, analyst with the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.
