Syria and the Neutrality Trap:

The Dilemmas of Delivering Humanitarian Aid through Violent Regimes

I.B. Tauris, London (UK) 2021

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 Syria - A Decade of Lost Chances:

Repression and Revolution from Damascus Spring to Arab Spring

Cune Press, Seattle (USA) 2012

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The roundtable opened with an introduction by Carsten Wieland followed by comments by Anna Cervi (Norwegian Refugee Council) and Emanuela Chiara-Gillard (Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict).

Discussing ethical dilemmas and international legal dimensions on the controversial practice of delivering humanitarian aid to Syria.

Discussing the continued abuse of humanitarian aid in Syria with Natasha Hall, Senior Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS),
Ibrahim Olabi, lawyer at Guernica 37, founder of the Syrian Legal Development Program, and Susanne Fries-Gaier, Director for Humanitarian Aid in the German Foreign Office.

Puzzled why 90% of humanitarian aid were at times channelled through Damascus while some 90% of the destruction and human suffering was caused by the same government in place. Pledging for a different approach to humanitarian aid, more adherence to humanitarian principles, collective bargaining, less dependency on a paralized UN Security Council.

Discussing the stakes and implications of continuing or ending UN cross border humanitarian assistence in Syria with Ambassador James Jeffrey, former US Envoy to Syria, and Basma Alloush from the Norwegian Refugee Council, moderated by Charles Thépaut from the Washington Institute.

Laying out the dimensions of the Syrian conflict in terms of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law and the danger of letting Syria's Asad, and his UNSC allies Russia and China erode so far consensual humanitarian principles and return to the Westphalian notion of hard and unconditional state souvereignty detached from the responsibility of a government to protect its people.

Giving an outline of 10 years of Syrian crisis marked by a large degree of military and humanitarian asymmetry, fragmentation of actors, negotiation venues and territory; also witnessing a bilateralization of short-term deals instead of a comprehensive and multilateral peace effort and an attempt to de-politicize issues like refugee return and reconstruction.

Discussion with Ralf Südhoff (CHA), Rim Turkmani (London School of Economics) and Lena Schellhammer (Maram Foundation) about the effectiveness of sanctions as part of a larger international tool kit and about colateral effects of humanitarian aid on terrorist actors on the ground.

De Mistura was the longest serving UN Special Envoy for Syria 2014-2018 but had to leave his work unfinished, too.

Discussion about possibilities, difficulties and missed chances for peace in Syria in a regional and international environment that doesn't seem to be ready for a UN-facilitated, comprehensive and multilateral solution.

Discussing proposals of adjusting the UNSC's composition, work and veto rights.

A policy dilemma for mid-career students in an area where senior state diplomats have failed to reach an agreement for many years.

Discussion about the Kurdish question and other regional policy challenges for Turkey and neighbouring countries.

Moderation of the Panel

Round table discussion "Where is Syria Going?", on the panel with Leila Vignal (Oxford University), Samir Altaqi (Orient Research Center Dubai), Yasmine Ghani, Adham Saouli and Omar Imady (University of St. Andrews), Eberhard Kienle (University Sciences Po, Paris) and Rim Turkmani (London School of Economics).

University of St. Andrews Campus

On the panel with journalist Kristin Helberg and German diplomat Andreas Krüger, moderated by Dr. Magdalena Kirchner...

...in the historic ambience of the Museum for Islamic Art in Berlin.

photos: KAS

Both stability in Syria and the country's unity are highly questionable at this stage of conflict(s) as...

...the panel "Could a sustainable peace and unification be reached in Syria and Iraq?" discussed with Ünal Ceviköz (ret. Turkish ambassador), Dr. Timor Makhmutov (Russian International Affairs Council, RIAC) and me.

Syria used to be a stable middle power in the region that exerted influence on other players, like Hezbollah in Lebanon, but nowadays the multiple conflicts emerging in the...

...fragmenting state are making the UN or any mediation process extremely difficult. GCSP fellows discussed the historical background of the conflicts and the  current mediation challenges.

The former Algerian Foreign Minister brokered the Taif Agreement in 1989 that ended the Lebanese war, but in Syria the war parties are not exhausted yet.

Brahimi quit his efforts to find a peaceful solution in Syria in May 2014 with an apology to the Syrian people.

On the panel "Security Scenarios in the MENA Region with the Levant on Fire" with Amb. Mustafa Ergün Olgun, Amb. Murat Öszelik, and Amb. Ünal Ceviköz.

Following the discussions in times of rising bilateral Turkish-German and regional tensions.

Speech: "Scout, Amonisher and Revolutionary: Sadiq al-Azm's Political Thinking"

On the panel with Dr. Abdelbaset Sieda, Dr. Aziz al-Azmeh, and Dr. Faleh Abdul Jabbar

Sadiq's widow, Eman Shaker (l), with organizer from Ibn Rushd Fund, Cora Josting (r)

 Personal farewell speech for Sadiq al-Azm:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MVKoKxWd8

Discussing the issue of how the external actors in Syria's proxy war affect substance and design of the political mediation process.

 On the panel with Dr. Ammar Kahf, Omran for Strategic Studies (Istanbul), Prof. Dr. Eberhard Kienle, director of Institut francais du proche-orient (IFPO) (Beirut), and Alia Mansour, Political Committee of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces (Istanbul)

On the panel "The future of Syria and Iraq with regard to IS and other non-state actors."

German and Turkish scholars, military experts and diplomats discuss the centrifugal forces in Turkey's neighbourhood and the repercussions in Syria, Iraq and Turkey itself. They also discussed the regional role of Iran and its internal dynamics. 

 Conference opening panel with Prof. Dr. Raymond Hinnebusch, Centre for Syrian Studies, University of St. Andrews (Scotland, UK), Prof. Dr. Sadiq al-Azm, Damascus University (now in Germany), and Prof. Dr. Fred Lawson, Mills College (Oakland, USA).

Speech “Between Geneva II and Geneva III: The Desperate Search for a Political Solution”

On the panel with Prof. Dr. Friedbert Pflüger (Pflüger International), Dr. Walter Posch (German Institute for International and Security Affairs, SWP), Dr. Magdalena Kirchner (German Council on Foreign Relations, DGAP), Prof. Dr. Murat Erdogan (Hacettepe University, Ankara).

Speech on the Development of the Syrian Crisis After the Geneva-II Negotiations.

Photos: KAS

On the panel with Iran expert Dr. Walter Posch (German Institute for International and Security Affairs, SWP) and Julie Kolsdorf (BAKS)

Syria's internal war in its third year fuelled by interests of regional actors and the absence of political negotiations 

Turkish and German security policy experts discuss regional tensions in the Middle East, repercussions for Turkey, and global challenges for Europe after the Ukrainian crisis.

Speech about the complexity of the Syrian conflict, the possible role of civil society and peace options. 

Expert round table on Alawis in Syria and broader discussions about Syria's political future

Panel discussion "The Syrian War: Reflections and Responses" together with Prof. Dr. Raymond Hinnebusch (University of St. Andrews), Prof. Dr. Michael Kerr (King's College London), Dr. Michael Williams (Chatham House), and Dr. Reinoud Leenders (King's College London)

On the panel with Daniyel Demir (President of the German Association of Arameans in Germany), Atefeh Sadeghi (Institute for Interreligious Dialogue), Aiman Mazyek (Central Council of the Muslims in Germany), Salam Kawakibi (Arab Reform Initiative), Otmar Oehring (Konrad Adenauer Foundation), Madlen Vartian (Speaker of the Christian-Alevit Friendship Circle), Lamya Kaddor (President of the Liberal Islamic Alliance).  

Controversial discussion on future scenarios of religious coexistence in Syria.

(Fotos: KAS)

Mapping the different conflicts that are raging in Syria.

Trying to find answers for a political solution.

(photos: Tudor Goicea) 

On the senior scholars panel with Prof. Dr. Raymond Hinnebusch, Dr. Thomas Pierret, Prof. Dr. Salwa Ismail, Prof. Dr. Eberhard Kienle, Dr. Yezid Sayigh, Prof. Dr. Dawn Chatty.

The conference took place on the 600th anniversary of the University of St. Andrews.

German and Turkish security and policy experts discuss the repercussions of the Arab Spring and the Syrian crisis for Turkey and the neighbourhood.

Speech about Syria's multiple crises: the overarching conflict of the Syrian regime fighting great parts of its population, and emerging sub-conflicts.

On the Panel with Ambassador Dr. Heinrich Kreft, Fawaz Haddad and Dr. Günther Orth.

The atrocities in Iraq described in Haddad's book are now happening in Syria, and the fight between Islamists and secularists drives a wedge through families and entire societies. (photos: KAS)

International Forum at the Leipzig Book Fair

 On the panel with Sadiqu Al-Mousllie, Mohammad Al-Zuabi, Hassan Suwaid, Bassam Helou and moderator Prof. Dr. Udo Steinbach 

Event sponsored by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Ankara.

Speech by invitation of Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Bağcı, chairman of the Department of International Relations at Middle East Technical University Ankara

Panel with Dr. Gülistan Gürbey (Free University, Berlin) and moderator Ali Aslan (Deutsche Welle)

Looking back at the ups and downs of Turkish-Syrian relations during the decade of Bashar al-Asad.

Diplomats, academics and lay audience in the Ernst Kolbe Hall in the German Foreign Office

Discussion with Dutch ex-diplomat and Syria expert Nikolaos van Dam and German ex-ambassador to Damascus, Gunter Mulack (German Orient Institute)

Panel with Ruprecht Polenz (President of the Foreign Committee in the German Bundestag), Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Bağcı (Middle East Technical University, Ankara), Kristin Helberg (journalist, Berlin), Dr. Kamal Sido (Society for Threatened Peoples, Göttingen)

The conference hall in the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Moderator: Sebastian Sons (German Orient Institute, Berlin)

Speech of Villy Søvndal, Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs, about the challenges of the Syrian crisis for Danish and European foreign policy.

Panel on the internal dynamics of the Syrian conflict with Prof. Jakob Skovgaard-Petersen (University of Copenhagen), Louay Hussein (Buidling the Syrian State), Dr. Reinoud Leenders (University of Amsterdam)

 Speech of Ambassador Dr. Nikolaos van Dam: "The Regime of Bashar al-Asad: Battle for Political Survival"

Speech of Hozan Ibrahim (SNC): "Chances and Risks for Political Change: The Work of the Syrian National Council"

Speech of Dr. Carsten Wieland: "The Syrian Opposition: United in Disunity?"

(photos: Tobias Fresenius, KAS)

Panel with Dr. Oliver Ernst (KAS), Dr. Bijan Khajehpour (Atieh International) and Dr. Awat Asadi

Speech about Syria, Human Rights and the Dilemma

of the West

(photos: Oliver Ernst, KAS)

Panel with Dr. Anat Kurz (INSS, Tel Aviv), Dr. Michael Lange (KAS, Germany), and Prof. Dr. Carlo Masala (German Bundeswehr University, Munich)

Conference center Villa Collina at Lake Como

Panel with Khaled Oweis (Reuters), Dr. Amr al-Azm (Syrian opposition), and Gudrun Harrer (Der Standard)

Final panel with Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Picard, Dr. Thomas Pierret and Prof. Dr. Raymond Hinnebusch

Conference participants are enjoying a fresh breeze at the historic Cathedral of St. Andrews

Panel with Prof. Dr. Fred Lawson, Dr. Benafsheh Keynoush and Dr. Özlem Tur

Main historic building of the University of Lund

With Angélica Lozano Correa, campaign manager of the Green Party of Colombia

Panel with Reiner Huhle (Nürnberg Human Rights Centre) Angélica Lozano (Green Party Colombia) and moderator Bernd Pickert (taz).

Participants in Lund's historical main university building

Presentation on the Present Context of Syrian's Foreign Policy: Change in the Region and Stagnation at Home

Panel with Elizabeth Shakman Hurd, Meliha Altunisik, and Jihad al-Zein

Participants in the Danish Institute Damascus

German Orient Institute Beirut

30 June 2009

Goethe Institute Damascus

1 July 2009

Panel with Vabah Gayflor, Minister for Gender and Development, Liberia, Esther Mujawayo-Keiner, sociologist and trauma therapist, survivor of the Rwanda genocide (NGO Avega), Daniel de Torres, Deputy Head of Special Programmes at the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF)

Speech on media, gender and conflict

Panel with Prof. Dr. Udo Steinbach, Dr. Rainer Bernstein, Dr. Oliver Ernst

Panel with Mazhar Samman

Speech on Syria under Bashar al-Asad and the Crisis in Lebanon

With Prof. Dr. Joe Ferrara, Dean of the Public Policy Institute at Georgetown University

Panel with Ayman Abdel Nour, Kristin Helberg and Sami Moubayed