| MERIP Media Resource List, July 9, 2004
AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS on the following topics:
- ICJ advisory opinion on Israel's wall in the West Bank
- Iraq's Emergency Powers Laws
- IAEA and nuclear-free zone in the Middle East
JAMIL DAKWAR
Jamil Dakwar is a research fellow at Human Rights Watch and
formerly a senior staff attorney at Adalah, one of Israel's
leading human rights organizations. Commenting on today's
ICJ advisory opinion, Dakwar said: “Today's advisory opinion
by the International Court of Justice sends a clear message.
Israel must choose between being a chronic violator of international
law and becoming a law-abiding and accountable member of the
international community. The opinion leaves no doubt as to
the responsibility of all UN member states to ensure Israel's
compliance with international obligations.”
JOE STORK
Joe Stork is Middle East advocacy director for Human Rights
Watch. Commenting on the Emergency Powers Laws, Stork said:
“The Iraqi law, unlike many others in the Arab world, has
the virtue of stating clearly that an emergency law is by
definition temporary, but the vague threshold for invoking
emergency powers (‘danger of grave proportions') and the apparent
ability of the government to disband parties and groups it
doesn't like without the right of challenge or appeal is very
worrying.”
ARJUN MAKHIJANI
Arjun Makhijani is president of the Institute for Energy and
Environmental Research. He has authored many articles and
books on nuclear issues. The book Nuclear Wastelands (MIT
Press), of which he is principal editor, was nominated for
a Pulitzer. Commenting on IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradai's recent
visits to the region and statements regarding a nuclear-free
zone, Makhijani said: "The failure of nuclear weapons states
to create an effective disarmament plan has contributed to
the policies of states that remain outside of the Non-Proliferation
Treaty, such as Israel, India and Pakistan, to build up their
nuclear arsenals. It has also spawned the nuclear aspirations
of other countries in the region, including Iran. The nuclear
policy of no country can be viewed in isolation. There should
be a sustained commitment to a nuclear-free region in the
Middle East. This will be made more feasible by a global disarmament
plan that includes South Asia."
-------------
Return to archive index
For more
information, contact Michelle Woodward, MERIP Media Coordinator,
at (202) 223-3677, or merip.media@merip.org. Media Resource Lists are an initiative of the
MERIP Media Outreach Program.
The Middle East Research and Information Center (MERIP),
1500 Massachusetts Ave, NW, Suite 119, Washington, DC 20005,
Tel: (202) 223 3677, Fax: (202) 223 3604, www.merip.org
|
