News & Events
Model-EU 2008
The International Relations Department continued its simulation tradition in 2008. Organised by Wojciech Forysinski and Derek Hearl, the Model-EU 2008 took place on the 22nd and 24th of May 2008 the participants being students taking EURO204 and EURO301. Different from the previous ones, this semester’s concept was the European Parliament. Each student was a member of both a Political Group and a Parliamentary Committee. On the 22nd of May, students held their party meetings and distributed rôles to party members. The following day was for reflection, informal discussion and research. Following these preparations, the committee meetings started at 10:00 am on the last day of the Model-EU. When the Committee Meetings had been completed, the Plenary Session of the European Parliament began. Following the plenary session, students and professors took photos in front of the Model-EU venue, the EMU Library. This was the first time the European Parliament had been the focus of the EMU Model-EU and students had the great experience of simulating the work of an MEP. The photographs of the Model-EU 2008 can also be found after 25 May 2008 on “EMU Model-EU 2008” group on Facebook.
Buffavento Trip
"Two correlated words: Cyprus and Buffavento in Kyrenia to be visited… Buffavento or "Defier of the Winds" from Italian was visited by curious international students and the Chair of IR Department on April 20. A half day trip gave an impression of an old history of the place that was used as a defense point against Arab attack, even afterwards a prison in medieval ages. A thrill from the excursion not only left a sense of an old history, nice meal in the restaurant on valley, but also brought additional room to put ourselves on the shoes of singers and brainstorm among the top level students of the University. To be continued…"
Kosovo Round-table
The participants in the IR round-table debate on Kosovo, which took place on Tuesday, April 1, 2008, discussed the Post World War II Federation State of Yugoslavia and focused particularly on the interaction between the Republic of Serbia and the autonomous region of Kosovo. Special attention was given to Serbian nationalism and Kosovo’s loss of autonomy which lead to the emergence of opposition in two directions: peaceful resistance and the independence movement which called for arm struggle. The Balkan crisis context was taken into account in order to understand the international response of the US, UN, NATO, OSCE, when it contemplated both diplomatic and military options. The relative failure of the Rambouillet Conference was revisited in light of NATO’s intervention and bombing campaign in the name of humanitarian considerations, and without the backing of the UN, which ended years of terror suffered by the 90% of the Albanian population of Kosovo and the indictment of Milosevic. An exchange of ideas took place between the presenters, around Kosovo under the supervision of the UN interim administration (UNMIK) and NATO lead Kosovo force (KFOR). Detailed analysis of the UN Security Council resolution 1244 (1999) and its implications on the legal and political levels was presented. It was followed by a general discussion centred on the post 2001 provisional institutions of self-government, the Martti Ahtissari’s proposals of 2007, and the implications of the Declaration of Independence, 17 February 2008, issued by the Assembly of Kosovo. The issue of recognition was approached at length from international law and international relation perspectives while alluding to the reasons that may explain the attitudes, vis-à-vis Kosovo, of many international actors such as the USA, EU member states, the Russian Federation and other states. After an overview of the more than 8 years of the NATO lead intervention and subsequent international administration, the issue of human rights in Kosovo was raised, especially regarding the condition of minorities, despite the ongoing current accountability arrangements. From this angle the future of independent Kosovo, shared between all nationalities, including Serbs, was contemplated in terms of multiculturalism, rule of law and European integration within the framework of the Balkans and beyond.
Participants: Dr. Moncef Khaddar, Dr. Erik Knudsen, Dr. Erol Kaymak (moderator), Dr. Wojciech Forysinski
UnderGraduate Term Paper Award Ceremony
In recent years the Department of International Relations has been promoting higher standards of writing and research amongst its students and has instituted awards to acknowledge students who produce the best term papers. All instructors of the department were asked to submit their best papers which were then judged by the department’s Undergraduate Affairs Committee. The award ceremony for the Best Undergraduate Term Paper of the Fall Semester (2007-2008) was held on 28 March 2008 in the faculty meeting room with the four best students awarded their certificates of recognition. Acting Chair Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wojciech Forysinski awarded the certificates.First prize went to Yeliz Yavuz, 2nd prize was shared jointly by Assi Habib Gody & Hootan Alaei and 3rd prize was awarded to Sa’adatu Sani Malumfashi . As part of the department’s continuing policy of encouraging excellence in students’ academic work prizes will be awarded again for the best papers of the Spring 2007-8 semester.
Spike Events
SEMINER:: "The Upcoming U.S. Elections and the Role of Lobbying in the U.S."
John Zimmerman Expert on U.S. Politics
DATE::30 November 2007, Friday
PLACE::Senate Room
NOTE::The seminar will be held in English.
For the downloadable version of spike information:spike.doc (28Kb)
For pictures of the event.