In the third podcast in our series, “In The Zone”, Anahita Parsa and Paul Ingram interview Tariq Rauf from Canada, who was the former Head of the Verification and Security Policy Coordination Office at the International Atomic Energy Agency, among many other important roles in the disarmament field. In this interview, Rauf talks about how he developed his interest in the region, the benefits of establishing a WMD-Free Zone there, how states can be incentivised to form one, the technical obstacles to it, the cynicism that frequently confronts those efforts, and what we can expect from the incoming Biden Administration in the USA.
Continue reading “In The Zone – Episode 3 – Tariq Rauf”METO emphasises the importance of human security in the Brown Journal of World Affairs
In a paper recently published in the Brown Journal of World Affairs, the biannual academic journal of international relations and foreign policy produced at Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University, METO directors Sharon Dolev, Emad Kiyaei and Tony Robinson make the case for advancing in areas of human security across the region as a way of building a regional identity which can support the creation of conditions for the WMD-Free Zone.
Continue reading “METO emphasises the importance of human security in the Brown Journal of World Affairs”In The Zone – Episode 2 – Dr Tarja Cronberg
In the second podcast in our series, “In The Zone”, Anahita Parsa and Paul Ingram interview Dr Tarja Cronberg from Finland, former MEP and current distinguished associate fellow at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, about the benefits of a WMD-Free zone, how to get all states of the region talking to one another, regional cynicism, her new book “Renegotiating the Nuclear Order”, and the prospects for women in the field of security.
Continue reading “In The Zone – Episode 2 – Dr Tarja Cronberg”“In the Zone” podcast series launched
A busy 2021 kicks off for METO with the launch of a new podcast series which aims to explore some of the constructive approaches that improve the chances of achieving a WMD free-zone in the Middle East. Once every two weeks our guests, who are experts in their fields, will be asked about how to dodge the obstacles, how to build trust between countries and how to improve peace and security for people in the region. The interviews will be conducted by our director, Paul Ingram and our programme associate, Anahita Parsa.
Continue reading ““In the Zone” podcast series launched”METO partnership with World BEYOND War
As part of METO’s strategy to reach out and partner with likeminded organizations working in fields of mutual concern, we are delighted to announce a partnership with World BEYOND War (WBW).
Continue reading “METO partnership with World BEYOND War”METO statement on the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh
Date: 28/11/2020
The Middle East Treaty Organization (METO) condemns in the strongest terms the assassination of the Iranian scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh as reported in the media today. Iran has alleged that this crime has been carried out by Israeli agents, and other reports suggest that it has possibly been condoned by the out-going US Administration of Donald Trump.
Continue reading “METO statement on the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh”Interview with the founders of the Middle East Treaty Organization
The Middle East Treaty Organization (METO), according to its shiny new website, has a vision of a peaceful, integrated and thriving Middle East built on human and environmental security and a mission to eradicate WMDs, broker peace and build security in the Middle East. After years of participating in conferences as a campaign under the wing of different partner organisations, METO, under the direction of the Israeli, Sharon Dolev, the Iranian, Emad Kiyaei and the Brit, Paul Ingram took advantage of the Covid lockdown in order to turn itself into a registered organisation. Pressenza, which has been following METO’s development since 2018, took the opportunity to interview METO’s original founders Sharon, Paul and Emad about the past, present and future. For the purposes of full disclosure, the interviewer Tony Robinson, is also a director of METO having been brought in to help out with back office functions and communications.
Continue reading “Interview with the founders of the Middle East Treaty Organization”METO statement on the impending Entry into Force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
Date: 24/10/2020
The Middle East Treaty Organization (METO) extends its warmest congratulations to the governments of all those states that have ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), a treaty which prohibits the development, testing, production, acquisition, possession, stockpiling, use or threat of use of nuclear weapons. Under the terms of the treaty, the treaty will come into force in 90 days from today.
Continue reading “METO statement on the impending Entry into Force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons”IPPNW and METO cooperate to stimulate a new civil society push for disarmament from within the region
On the 20th of August, 2020, IPPNW and METO held a joint webinar targeted at stimulating disarmament initiatives from within the Middle East titled, “Building the movement of health workers to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe involving nuclear weapons”. The idea was inspired by the work of the original founders of IPPNW, Soviet and US physicians, who were among the first to recognise the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons on human health and the dangers they pose to human civilisation and even the very survival of human beings as a species. Almost 100 people from all over the world registered and well over 50% of them attended.
Continue reading “IPPNW and METO cooperate to stimulate a new civil society push for disarmament from within the region”New York: An Iranian and an Israeli talking about nuclear weapons
With a banner hanging on the Maryhouse stage behind them reading “Pope Francis Proclaims: The very Possession of Nuclear Weapons is to be Firmly Condemned”, Emad Kiyaei rises, “First of all, thank you so much. Stepping into this space has been truly profound, knowing that so many here have fought for a such variety of injustices in this country and abroad and how this has contributed to us all.
A quick note, this is quite rare, and not a joke, when we have an Israeli (Sharon Dolev), a Palestinian from Jordan (moderator Dina Saadallah), and an Iranian (himself) sitting together to speak about the issues of war and weapons of mass destruction.” Indeed, it’s extremely rare, a personal risk for each. They came directly from their presentation at the United Nations, the culmination of years of effort, during the conference for a WMD Free Zone in the Middle East, with diplomats from many countries intrigued as to how this could happen. With animosities, walls, rhetoric so high, and wars murdering all involved, where to start? Indeed the subtitle for their presentation of METO (The Middle East Treaty Organization) is “Achieving the Possible”. Several countries (Sweden, Ireland, etc) had already given their support for this brave, clearly needed effort.
Continue reading “New York: An Iranian and an Israeli talking about nuclear weapons”