Media & Publications
Participation at a closed roundtable “Czechia’s Engagement in Africa: An Issue of Geopolitics?”
Vojtěch Bílý, Research Fellow of Prague Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute participated at a closed roundtable entitled “Czechia’s Engagement in Africa: An Issue of Geopolitics?.” The event was held on May 16, 2023 the sidelines of the annual conference “Multilateral Czechia” organized by the Institute for International Affairs (IIR) in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic.
Participation at a conference “EU-Turkey Relations in the Context of Russian Aggression”
Tomáš Kaválek, Director of Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute participated as a speaker on the conference entitled “EU-Turkey Relations in the Context of Russian Aggression.” The event was held at the Institute of International Relations (IIR) in Prague on October 24, 2022 and was co-organized by the Economic Development Foundation of Turkey.
Policy Paper “Yet Another Turkish Operation in Syria: Ankara’s Wishful Thinking or a Real Possibility?”
Ramazan Ozel from the Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) published a policy paper entitled “Yet Another Turkish Operation in Syria: Ankara’s Wishful Thinking or a Real Possibility?”
The paper analyzes the potential next Turkish military operation in northern Syria in the context of Turkish domestic politics and Turkey’s ties with the US, Russia, and other international actors and armed groups in Syria.
Policy Paper “The Pivotal Role of the Pro-Kurdish Party HDP in Turkish Politics”
Ramazan Ozel from the Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) published a policy paper entitled “The Pivotal Role of the Pro-Kurdish Party HDP in Turkish Politics.” The paper analyzes the current role of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Turkish politics in the context of upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.
Policy Paper “Coalition Building before 2023 Presidential Elections in Turkey: What Lies Ahead?”
Ramazan Ozel from the Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) published a policy paper entitled “Coalition Building before 2023 Presidential Elections in Turkey: What Lies Ahead?” The paper investigates the current alliance formations for the upcoming presidential elections in Turkey.
Policy Paper “Erbil Missile Attack: A Repeated Policy and Continued Attack”
Ziryan Rojhelati from the Rudaw Research Centre in Erbil published a policy paper for the Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) on the latest Iranian missile attack that has taken place in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq entitled”Erbil Missile Attack: A Repeated Policy and Continued Attack.”
We Are Launching a New Web of Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR)!
It is our pleasure to announce that as of today we are launching a brand new web of Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute! All information about PCMR’s activities, planned events and publications can be found at our new website www.pcmr.cz.
Interview on situation in Idlib in the aftermath of killing of ISIS leader Haji Abdallah for Seznam Zprávy
Tomáš Kaválek from the Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute gave an interview to Seznam Zprávy on the current situation in Idlib where US special operation eliminated another ISIS leader Haji Abdallah aka Abu Ibrahim al-Quraishi.
Article “Why so many Kurds are leaving Iraq’s KRG?”
Tomáš Kaválek from Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute published an article “Why so many Kurds are leaving Iraq’s KRG?” for Zenith magazine exploring migration push factors from Iraqi Kurdistan. Iraqi Kurds are among many illegal migrants stranded on Poland-Belarus border.
Interview for CEVRO ARENA with Hiwa Osman on Iraqi Elections
Hiwa Osman, a prominent Iraqi Kurdish journalist and former advisor to Iraq president visited Prague upon the invitation from Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute. Tomáš Kaválek, Director of PCMR interviewed him for CEVRO ARENA on early elections in Iraq, weakinening Iranian influence or building trust in the new electoral process.
Article “The End of Operation Barkhane: A New Chapter in the Fight Against Islamist Terrorism in Sahel”
Vojtěch Bílý, a new member of the Prague Centre for Middle East Relations’ (PCMR) team, analyses the security and political situation in Sahel considering the reduced French engagement in the region in his article “The End of Operation Barkhane: A New Chapter in the Fight Against Islamist Terrorism in Sahel” for The Conservative.
Interview “On Life and Work in Iraqi Kurdistan and Turkey” for Czech Radio Plus
Tomáš Kaválek from the Center for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of the CEVRO Institute gave an extensive interview about his experiences of living, working and researching in the Middle East for Czech Radio Plus in the programme Hovory s Ondřejem Novákem. Tomáš talked about (not only) the Kurdish question in Iraq and Turkey, about the hopes and problems these countries face, and about the pitfalls of research work in problematic regions.
Article “The Fate of the Shayta’at Tribe in the Syrian War”
Tomáš Kaválek from the Center for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of the CEVRO Institute published an article “The Fate of the Shayta’at Tribe in the Syrian War” for Natbase.cz. The text shows the moving story of the Arab Shaytaat tribe, which faced a massacre by the Islamic State in 2014.
Article “In search of the ‘second-best solution’ to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict”
Radka Havlová of the Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute with Petr Pavlík of the Prague University of Economics and Business, published an article in Israel Affairs entitled “In search of the ‘second-best solution’ to the Palestinian-Israeli conflct.”
Article “The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria: An Enduring Defeat or a Foreshadow of Return”
Tomas Kaválek of Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute published an article for The Conservative entitled “The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria: An Enduring Defeat or a Foreshadow of Return?” The organization is still active and capable of waging a low-intensity insurgency.
Tomáš Kaválek’s Dissertation “Comparative Analysis of PKK Insurgencies in the Middle East in 2004-18”
Tomáš Kaválek of Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute defended his dissertation “Comparative Analysis of PKK Insurgencies in the Middle East in 2004-18: Examining Conditions for Insurgent Behaviour” and was awarded Ph.D. in Political Science at Faculty of Social Studies of Masaryk University in Brno.
Interview for Seznam zprávy on increased intensity and sophistication of ISIS attacks in Syria
Tomáš Kaválek of Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute gave an interview to Seznam zprávy on increasing intensity and sophistication of ISIS operations in Syria in an article “The Exploit Chaos and Grow Stronger. Jihadists Benefit US Departure” from Milan Rokos.
2020
Policy Paper “Russian Encroachment in Arab Countries since 2011: Brewing Problems for the EU in the Middle East and North Africa?”
Tomáš Kaválek of Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute with Filip Sommer of Association for International Affairs (AMO) published a policy paper for New Direction titled “Russian Encroachment in Arab Countries since 2011: Brewing Problems for the EU in the Middle East and North Africa?”
Article “China’s ‘Belt and Road’ Economic Diplomacy in the Persian Gulf: Strategic Hedging amidst Saudi–Iranian Regional Rivalry”
Radka Havlová of Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute with Jeremy Garlick of University of Economics in Prague published an article in the Journal of Current Chinese Affairs titled “China’s ‘Belt and Road’ Economic Diplomacy in the Persian Gulf: Strategic Hedging amidst Saudi–Iranian Regional Rivalry”.
Article “Russia’s Imprint in Iraqi Kurdistan: Rosneft’s Ascendancy”
Tomáš Kaválek of Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute with Filip Sommer from Faculty of Science, Charles University have published an article in Middle East Policy titled “Russia’s Imprint in Iraqi Kurdistan: Rosneft’s Ascendancy.“
Interview on imapcts of Qassim Suleimani’s detah on the situation in Iraq
Tomáš Kaválek of Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute discussed in lengthy interview for DefenseNews.sk impacts of the killing of Qassim Suleimani on the security and political situation in the region and especially in Iraq.
Interview about Iranian retaliation for the killing of General Suleimani
Iran responded to the killing of Suleimani with a missile attack on coalition bases in Iraq. The likelihood of escalation or de-escalation between US and Tehran, and the impact on stability in Iraq were described by Tomáš Kaválek of Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute for Czech Radio Plus
2019
Interview “The Never-ending Turkish-Kurdish Conflict”
Tomáš Kaválek of Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) described the roots and current state of the so-called Kurdish problem and the conflict between the Turkish government and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), as well as in the context of events in Syria in an extensive interview for DefenceNews.sk.
Article “Rojava, the Kurds, the US Withdrawal and Turkish Invasion: Betrayal, Evil and Folly?”
Tomáš Kaválek of Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute published an article “Rojava, the Kurds, US Withdrawal and Turkish Invasion: Betrayal, Evil and Folly?” for epravo.cz. Turkey’s incursion into Syria east of the Euphrates was followed by chaotic statements by the US and the withdrawal of most US forces from the region.
Policy Paper “Protests in Lebanon: The Rebirth of the Lebanese Unity”
Jana Samadová of Faculty of Social Sciences of Charles University published a policy paper for Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute “Protests in Lebanon: The Rebirth of the Lebanese Unity” concerning development in Lebanon in the context of ongoing popular protests.
Interview on a Deal between Kurdish Administration, Damascus and Russia in Syria for Hospodářské noviny
Tomáš Kaválek of Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute commented on a new deal between Kurdish administration, Damascus and Russia in the context of Tukish invasion for Hospodářské noviny.
Interview on Ongoing Turkish Operation in Northeast Syria for Czech Radio Plus
Tomáš Kaválek of Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute gave an interview on ongoing Turkish operation in northeast Syria for Czech Radio Plus. Turkey’s operation in north-eastern Syria continues despite international criticism. Meanwhile, the US have announced their intention to withdraw troops from northeast Syria.
Interview “It Remains to Be Seen If the US Will Leave the Kurds in Syria Exposed”
Tomáš Kaválek of Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute gave a lengthy interview on the situation surrounding Turkish operation in northeast Syria and possible scenarios for further developments for iRozhlas.cz.
Policy Paper “Violent Protests in Hit Iraq Weakening Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi”
Tomáš Kaválek of Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute published a policy paper “Violent Protests in Hit Iraq Weakening Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi.” Demonstrators mainly demand improvement of public services, tackling corruption and providing job opportunities. These events weaken PM Adel Abdul Mahdi’s position.
Interview on Summit in Ankara between Russia, Iran and Turkey fro RTV.sk
Tomáš Kaválek of Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) commented on the Ankara summit for RTV.sk. Another round of Astana talks between Russia, Iran and Turkey. All three countries have different interests in Syria, not only with regard to the fate of the last rebel bastion in Idlib.
Interview on Prospects of Turkish Invasion in Northeast Syria for Radiožurnál
Tomáš Kaválek of Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute commented on precipitous developments in northeast Syria in the context of a possible Turkish invasion and US plan to withdraw its forces from the area for Radiožurnál.
Interview on PM Babiš’ Visit to Turkey and his Meeting with President Erdoğan fro Aktuálně.cz
Tomáš Kaválek of Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) of CEVRO Institute gave an interview on PM Babiš’ visit to Turkey and his meeting with president Erdoğanem for Aktuálně.cz. The main topic of the visit was the issue of the unfinished Yunus Emre lignite power plant, in which the Czech Republic has invested up to 12bn CZK. Babiš also discussed with the Turkish president the situation of two Czechs, Markéta Všelichová and Miroslav Farkas.
Launching of Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR)
Prague Centre for Middle East Relations (PCMR) was established in September 2019 as an internal research and education institution of the CEVRO Institute. PCMR is based in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. Its main aim is to further enhance in-depth understanding of the contemporary political, security, social and economic developments in the Middle East.