Next Century Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Next Century Foundation (NCF) is an elite organisation that operates in various conflict zones across the globe. Originally established in 1990 to provide a forum for off-the-record discussions between Palestinians and Israelis, in addition to maintaining its original focus on the Middle East Peace Process NCF has expanded its remit by focusing on and operating in Iraq
, Kashmir
, Kosovo
, Sudan
, Egypt
, Afghanistan
, Yemen
and Libya
.
The Foundation produces policy papers for submission to governments. Most NCF work is second track and behind the scenes. Examples are wide ranging. For instance the NCF has:
, Lord Arnold Weinstock
, David Alliance, Baron Alliance CBE, Mr Jaweed al-Ghussein and Arnold Goodman, Baron Goodman
.
The present Secretary General is William Morris (Next Century Foundation)
. The Co-ordinator is Maggie Tomkinson. The trustees are Hon Mark Gregory Hambley
(USA), David Alliance, Baron Alliance of Manchester (UK), Mrs June Jacobs
(UK).
The Advisory Board of the Next Century Foundation includes: Andrew Stone, Baron Stone of Blackheath
; The Lord Tugendhat
; The Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Hanley KCMG
; HE DR Mohamed Shaker; Mr Russell Twisk; Mr Jaweed Al-Ghuussein; HE Mr Eric Roleau; HE Nasser Bin Hamad M. Al-Khalifa
.
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, Kashmir
Kashmir
Kashmir is the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. Until the mid-19th century, the term Kashmir geographically denoted only the valley between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal mountain range...
, Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
, Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
and Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
.
Activities
- Run missions into Iraq on behalf of the UK Minister of State for Foreign Affairs prior to the Iraq war, to examine prospects for war avoidance.
- Established the new International Media Council (since incorporated into the International Council for Press and BroadcastingInternational Council for Press and BroadcastingThe council is a subsidiary body of the Next Century Foundation, an organisation which deals primarily with conflict resolution issues and holds an annual International Media Awards in London...
) to examine problems of bias and racism in the media. Under the auspices of the council, the Foundation holds the International Media AwardsInternational Media AwardsThe International Media Awards is an annual awards ceremony held in London to celebrate high standards of Middle East journalism held by the International Council for Press and Broadcasting, a subsidiary body of the Next Century Foundation....
annually. - Provided a forum for direct dialogue between Serbs and Albanians over Kosovo (The West only permitted proximity talks at the time of the warKosovo WarThe term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
). - Produced reports on shared sovereignty issues with regard to Kashmir and Jerusalem
- Produced a series of policy reports on the political and security situation in Iraq, Iraq's regional relationships and the disputed territories (including Kirkuk). These usually follow extensive fact-finding missions throughout Iraq, carried out since 2003 and in some of Iraq's most dangerous and volatile areas.
- Monitored provincial and parliamentary elections in Iraq since 2005 (NCF election monitoring delegates have been the only international monitors to operate in both the Green and Red zones of Iraq).
- Worked on Mid East Peace Process issues including:
- A Resident Commissioner for Conciliation
- A Comprehensive Peace Process (Abdallah/Arab Plan).
Organization
Founding members were businessmen, politicians, journalist and diplomats including Claud MorrisClaud Morris
Claud Morris was a British newspaper owner who sought to make peace between Arabs and Israelis.Born near Penzance, Cornwall, he became a junior reporter aged 16. He joined the Canadian Army at the outbreak of World War II, but was invalided out in 1941...
, Lord Arnold Weinstock
Arnold Weinstock
Arnold Weinstock, Baron Weinstock was an English businessman whom The Guardian newspaper called "Britain's premier post-second-world-war industrialist."...
, David Alliance, Baron Alliance CBE, Mr Jaweed al-Ghussein and Arnold Goodman, Baron Goodman
Arnold Goodman, Baron Goodman
Arnold Abraham Goodman, Baron Goodman, CH, QC, was a British lawyer and political advisor.-Life:Lord Goodman was educated at University College London and Downing College, Cambridge. He became a leading London lawyer as Senior Partner in the law firm Goodman, Derrick & Co...
.
The present Secretary General is William Morris (Next Century Foundation)
William Morris (Next Century Foundation)
William Morris is Secretary General of the Next Century FoundationFormerly a journalist and publisher, William Morris is an expert on Arab Affairs with close family connections with the Arab world stretching back more than 30 years. At one time William Morris edited "Voice", a periodical on Arab...
. The Co-ordinator is Maggie Tomkinson. The trustees are Hon Mark Gregory Hambley
Mark Gregory Hambley
Ambassador Mark Gregory Hambley was born on February 12, 1948, in Boise, ID.A veteran of more than 30 years in the U.S. diplomatic service, Ambassador Mark Hambley served in eleven postings in nine Middle Eastern countries, including as U.S. Ambassador in Qatar and, later, in Lebanon and as the...
(USA), David Alliance, Baron Alliance of Manchester (UK), Mrs June Jacobs
June Jacobs
June Jacobs CBE is a British Jewish peace activist and a former President of the International Council of Jewish Women.She rose to prominence as a founder and first Chair of the National Council for Soviet Jews, regularly leading missions to visit refuseniks in the 1970s Soviet Bloc...
(UK).
The Advisory Board of the Next Century Foundation includes: Andrew Stone, Baron Stone of Blackheath
Andrew Stone, Baron Stone of Blackheath
Andrew Stone, Baron Stone of Blackheath is a Labour member of the House of Lords. He joined Marks and Spencer plc as a trainee in 1966 and retired his position as joint managing director of the company in 1999. He received a life peerage as Baron Stone of Blackheath in 1997...
; The Lord Tugendhat
Christopher Tugendhat, Baron Tugendhat
Christopher Samuel Tugendhat, Baron Tugendhat is a British politician belonging to the Conservative party, businessman, company director and chairman, and journalist/author.-Family background:...
; The Rt Hon Sir Jeremy Hanley KCMG
Jeremy Hanley
Sir Jeremy James Hanley, KCMG , is a politician and chartered accountant from the United Kingdom. He served as the Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1994-95, and as a Member of Parliament representing the constituency of Richmond and Barnes from 1983-97.Hanley was educated at Rugby School,...
; HE DR Mohamed Shaker; Mr Russell Twisk; Mr Jaweed Al-Ghuussein; HE Mr Eric Roleau; HE Nasser Bin Hamad M. Al-Khalifa
Nasser Bin Hamad M. Al-Khalifa
Sheikh Nasser served as the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Washington until 2007 when he left the diplomatic service...
.