During his 1st May visit to the University of Leeds, Tom Porteous spoke with IAF member Andrew Sutherland about the role New Labour has had in Africa since election in 1997. Porteous is the London director of Human Rights Watch, Guardian journalist, and author of Britain in Africa.
Upon his visit to the International Affairs Forum to speak on the topic of ‘Zimbabwe, Africa and the World: beyond patriotic blackness’ on 6th May 2008, Steven Akehurst, Lucy Irvine and Julia Rayner recorded this interview with Knox Chitiyo. Mr. Chitiyo is head of the Royal United Services Institute for Defence’s ‘Africa Program’. A former lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, Mr. Chitiyo has recently written extensively for The Guardian on the country, whilst also being a former editor of the Journal of African Security and Conflict.
In March 2008, Mark Dunham, of the International Affairs Forum, had the opportunity to speak with Richard Corbett MEP for Yorkshire and Humber. Richard Corbett is the Deputy Leader for Labour MEPs and Labour Spokesman on the Lisbon Treaty in the European Parliament. He, along with Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, were charged with drafting the European Parliament’s report on the new treaty.
In February 2008, Vijay Mehta came to Leeds University to speak to students on the issue of UN reform. Vijay Mehta is global activist for peace, development, human rights and the environment. He is president of VM Centre for Peace acting chair for Action for UN Renewal, and co-chair of World Disarmament Campaign. He has written many highly respected publications and appeared on many international television channels.
Whilst attending the ‘Kennedy Lecture’ at York University, Mark Dunham of the International Affairs Forum had the opportunity to meet Sir Crispin Tickell. Sir Crispin Tickell has had along and distinguished career with the Foreign Office having held such positions as UK Ambassador to Mexico,1981-1983 and British Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Permanent Representative on the Security Council, 1987 – 1990. Currently he is a world-renowned speaker on climate change issues and world affairs and has written numerous publications on this issue.
In November 2007 Food Journalist Alex Renton came to Leeds to speak to the International Affairs Forum. Renton worked as a news reporter for The Independent from when it was launched and as a war reporter for the Evening Standard. In 2001 he went to work for Oxfam as a campaigner and press officer helping run the ‘make trade fair’ campaign. Currently Alex Renton works freelance and writes articles for the Observer Food Monthly magazine often on issues surrounding food culture and security in Africa...
On a recent visit to Doha, Qatar Jack Mullan of the International Affairs Forum had the opportunity to meet Jon Yarrow, the Director of Trade and Investment at the British Embassy in Doha and James Lynch, the Political, Press and Public Affairs Officer at the Embassy. Qatar is a key partner for the UK politically, economically, in culture and education and in defence co-operation. On the agenda were bi-lateral business relations, further British investment in Qatar, human rights concerns as well as the Embassy’s relationship with the media and local community.
Jack Mullan from the International Affairs Forum recently had the opportunity to meet the Acting Romanian Ambassador to the U.K on her visit to Leeds University. Romania joined the EU on the 1st of Janaury 2007 and is looking forward to hosting the NATO...
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While in Ghana, Avnish Raichura met Shri R. N. Prasad, Indian High Commissioner to Ghana on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of Indian independence to talk about India at 60; its achievements, its challenges, and its role in the world...
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When in New York, Oliver Holmes of the International Affairs Forum had the opportunity to interview Richard Barrett, Coordinator of the monitoring team for the U.N.’s Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee.
Both the Security Council and the General Assembly take action against terrorism, however, after 9/11 the Security Council has taken...
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During the summer Jeremy Walker and Oliver Holmes, Forum chairman and vice-chairman respectively, travelled extensively in Lebanon and Syria. While in Lebanon they interviewed Robert Fisk.
Robert Fisk is one of the best known and most widely circulated foreign correspondents alive. A prolific author, he has written and translated a number of books and is a regular contributor to the British newspaper, The Independent. Based in Lebanon for the past 31 years with only occasional visits to the UK, Beirut has become his adopted home...
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While visiting Lebanon during June 2007 the International Affairs Forum interviewed Dr. Bilal Niam, Assistant Chief of the Executive Council of Hizbullah (Party of God) and Chief of Hizbullah’s reconstruction effort after the summer war with Israel. In Southern Beirut’s district of Dahieh the International Affairs Forum asked Dr Niam about Hizbullah’s role both domestically within Lebanon and internationally...
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China’s growth may still overshadow India’s own phenomenal economic boom, but India’s success is all the more remarkable in that its achievements have been secured in the context of its pluralist, democratic and federal governance, without the strong hand of an unchallenged, centralised government to guide it.
India’s relative stability and growth...
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During a trip to the Hay-on-Wye festival the International Affairs Forum had the opportunity to interview Lord Douglas Hurd. Lord Hurd served under both Margaret Thatcher, as Secretary or State for Northern Ireland and Home Secretary, and for John Major as Foreign Secretary. He became a prominent figure during the Yugoslav Wars as Foreign Secretary and has remained in public life as an author, historian and staunch supporter of the British conservative party.
Lord Hurd said that in the past British Prime Ministers did not need to take an interest in foreign affairs as they do now...
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Professor Bruce Jentleson is Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at Duke University, where he served from 2000-2005 as Director of the Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy. He is a leading expert on a wide range of issues of American foreign policy, with a distinguished professorial record and...
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On a research trip to Washington International Affairs Forum Chair Jeremy Walker spoke with Samuel Wells; Associate Director of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
Dr. Wells is currently the Director of the Center’s West European Studies Program and was formerly Director of the Wilson Center’s Working Group on Global Finance as well as Director of the International Security Studies Program there. He has been Consultant to the Secretary of Defense, is a Hoover International Peace Fellow and a Visiting Scholar at Institut Francais des Relations Internationales...
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During his state visit to the United Kingdom in April, the IAF secured an interview with President Enkhbayar of Mongolia. The president is an alumnus of Leeds University having studied there in the mid-1980s. He studied English and English literature but did not at that time engage with...
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In March 2007 The Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn MP came to Leeds to speak to the International Affairs Forum. Describing himself as a “Benn, but not a Bennite” he has been seen as a more mainstream politician than his father, Tony Benn. He is a Member of Parliament for Leeds Central and Secretary of State for International Development. Mr. Benn has worked for the Department for International Development (DFID) as a...
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Clare Short came to speak at the Centre for International Governance about how international institutions can help combat the problems we face at present. After her talk, I interviewed Ms Short about the Blair government, U.S. policy in the Middle East and nuclear proliferation.
“America is in terrible trouble and cannot succeed in its Middle East policy” she said...
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David Campbell-Bannerman was the fourth speaker to come and address the International Affairs Forum and his direct and articulate approach gave the students at Leeds a clear insight into the aims, policies and problems within the United Kingdom Independence Party...
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For the second International Affairs Forum event the British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia was invited to come and speak to the students regarding his postings and career. I had the pleasure of interviewing Sir Sherard Cowper-Coles prior to the talk to get an insight for the International Affairs Forum.
When asked why he decided to join the diplomatic services Sir Sherard quickly noted that he “decided to apply” and didn’t expect to get in...
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