The Peace Studies Centre's new head clarifies what it does and does not do, reports Dina Ezzat Launched close to a year ago by the Suzanne Mubarak Movement of Women for Peace, the Peace Studies Centre takes pride in being the first ever Egyptian academic centre strictly dedicated to approach the issue of peace from the theoretical and practical points of view. Chaired by Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, the centre is not a government body. It does not confuse its affiliation to Mrs Mubarak with its academic role which, in turn, should not be confused with government priorities. Ambassador Ali Maher, a prominent career diplomat, is the recently appointed director of the centre, which is affiliated to the Alexandria Library. Speaking to Al-Ahram Weekly, Maher insisted that while the centre originally emanates from the Suzanne Mubarak Movement of Women for Peace and that in fact it is "the academic arm of the movement," its mandate is of a different nature. "Under the chairmanship of Mrs Mubarak the movement is actively involved in organising and participating in many national, regional and international activities related to the promotion of the concepts and practices of peace. The centre, however, will confine itself to accord studies and commission research on related issues." Currently, Maher said, the centre is preparing for three courses that it will launch within the next few weeks. "These will be brief courses dedicated to issues related to the concepts and strategies of peace-making, the consequences of war and the role of civil society in promoting peace." The curricula, Maher said, will be taught by Egyptian and visiting professors "with convincing academic merit". Participants in the courses will be chosen by various governmental and non-government bodies "which will cover their expenses". At this point -- and maybe for a long time -- the centre is not planning to offer scholarships. "Our budget is still being put together from donations from independent bodies and individuals who are committed to the same agenda." Maher promptly added, "No conditions will be accepted from any donor regarding the courses or the studies to be taken by the centre. For us our academic independence and integrity is a crucial matter," Maher said. According to Maher, the centre has counted over 300 similar peace centres engaged in peace studies across the world. Of these, some have taken up the issue of peace studies in the immediate post-World War I era while others are as new as the Peace Studies Centre of the Alexandria Library. "We are contemplating cooperation with all like-minded research centres but again we are going to be doing this with an eye on our own policies," Maher said. The issue of a peace studies centre chaired by Mrs Mubarak immediately prompts a series of obvious questions: will the centre agree to cooperate with similar centres in Israel, irrespective of tension or cooperation between Egypt and Israel? Will it be allowed to commission studies related to issues of internal peace and the lack of peace between government and opposition in Egypt? What are the red lines and the guidelines of such an institute that despite all its academic credentials, carries the name of the president of the state? And how will the centre deal with the crucial issue of human rights while approaching the matter of societal peace? It looked as if Maher was a step ahead in expecting the questions, so straightforward and ready was he with his replies. The centre will draw up a plan of cooperation with concerned institutes upon academic merit and similarity of agendas and objectives. "It must be underlined that our objective is to promote peace and prevent war and aggression," he said. He added that the centre has not been in touch with any Israeli organisation. "Human rights and peace are integral issues that will be addressed with no sensitivity whatsoever," Maher affirmed. He added that the chairmanship of Mrs Mubarak both to the centre and the movement are done in strictly non- governmental capacities. "The promotion of peace might be confronted by the calls of some who say that the current developments in the region are not indusive to the objective. But I would argue that it is because peace is missing that we have to pursue it. This is the conviction of the centre," Maher said. He added that the task of promoting the concepts and practices of peace as perceived by the centre is not designed to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict. "But as we promote peace, and the bigger the audience we gain for our cause, in the region and across the world, we will be offering a contribution -- no matter how big or small -- to the hopes of peace-making everywhere in the world."
