Graduate Institute of International Studies

Contact GIIS at:
GRADUATE INSTITUTE OF
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
PO BOX 14, BIRZEIT,
PALESTINE
TEL: 9722-2982939
FAX: 9722-2982981
email:
is@grad.birzeit.edu

May 11th and 12th, 2000

Aim: The conference aims to identify the problems that face Palestinians in general and the Palestinian National Authority in particular and propose solutions for these problems.

First Day: Thursday 11 May2000

Registration: 8-9

Conference Opening
Dr. Hanna Nasir, University President

Dr. Muhsen Yusuf: Chair of Contemporary Arab Studies Program, 9:20-9:30

First Meeting: Palestinian - Arab - Israeli Negotiations, 9:45-11:45
Chair: Dr. Nazmi Al-Ju'beh, Department of History, Birzeit University
Mr. Yasser Abed Rabbo, Minister of Information and Culture; head of the Palestinian delegation to the final status negotiations.
Dr. Ziad Abu Amr: Member of the Legislative Council and lecturer at Birzeit University

Second Meeting: Palestine and External Funding 12:00-2:00

Chair: Dr. Abdul Aziz Iyad, History Department, Birzeit University
Dr. Mohammad Shtaya: Director of PECDAR (Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction)
Mr. Hassan Asfour: Minister of NGO Affairs
Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi: Director of Health Development Institute Policy
Dr. Majdi Malki: Chair of Sociology Department, Birzeit University
Dr. Jamil Hilal: Researcher in Sociology

Third Meeting: Relations between the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches in the Palestinian political system: Evaluation and Future Prospects

3:00-5:00

Chair: Dr. Hisham Ahmed-Fararjeh, Department of Political Science, Birzeit University
Mr. Nabil Amr: Minister of Parliamentary Affairs
Mr. Rawhi Fattouh: Secretary of the Legislative Council
Ms. Dalal Salama: Member of the Legislative Council

Second Day: Friday: 12 May 2000
Room 421, Engineering Building

Fourth Meeting: The Future of Democracy in Palestine: 9:30-11:30
Dr. Mudar Kassis, Cultural Studies Department, Birzeit University
Dr. George Giacaman, Dean of Graduate Studies, Birzeit University
Dr. Khalil Al-Shiqaqi: Chair of the Centre for Palestinian Political Research and Surveys
Dr. Hanan Ashrawi: Member of the Legislative Council and Director of Miftah Institute

Fifth Meeting: Media and Freedom of Opinion 11:30-1:30
Dr. Nabil Al-Khatib, Director of the Institute of Media, Birzeit University
Dr. Nashat Al-Aqtash: Chair of the Institute of Media, Birzeit University
Mr. Hani Masri: Director of press and publications in the Ministry of Information
Dr. Said Zeidani
Mr. Eric Rouleau: French Journalist

Sixth Meeting: Political Violence
Dr. Saleh Abdul-Jawad: Chair of History and Political Science, Birzeit University
Dr. Mohammad Haj Yahya: Lecturer at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem
Final Meeting: 4:30-5:00

The Conference Committee:
Dr. Muhsen Yusuf (Chair)
Dr. Nazmi Al-Ju'beh
Dr. Abdul Aziz Ayad
Dr. Mudar Kassis
Dr. Saleh Abdul-Jawad
Dr. Roger Heacock
Dr. Hisham Ahmed Fararjeh
Dr. Nabil Al-Khatib
Dr. Othman Sharkas