National gathering puts terrorism under spotlight

National gathering puts terrorism under spotlight

The Minister of Foreign Affairs will join leading national and international experts at Waikato University for a New Zealand colloquium on last month's terrorist attacks.

This is the first time a national meeting has been organised to discuss the causes and probable effects of the September 11 attacks.

The day long seminar on October 27th will see experts from Waikato, Auckland and Otago Universities discuss an importantly diverse range of issues with Government, Opposition and United States Embassy officials.

Event organiser, Professor Dov Bing, says that the unique meeting provides an opportunity to address many of the questions raised in the wake of the attacks and to ask how society moves forward through the conflict.

Professor Bing, from Waikato University, will delve into the character of Osama bin Laden and the terrorist activities of the al-Queda.

The Hon. Max Bradford will look at New Zealand's defence policy and how it has been affected by the attacks on September 11.

Auckland University's Dr Paul Buchanan, will focus on how the World Trade Centre suicide bombings have caused the "forced embrace of unconventional warfare in the US strategic perspective."

Dr Robert Pattman, from Otago University, examines the challenges that now face American foreign policy after the terrorist attacks.

Dr Leanne Piggott, from the University of Sydney, will discuss the interaction of Islam and Western cultures.

Michael Siyad, who came to New Zealand as a refugee from war torn Somalia, will discuss Islamism in Northern Africa and the Middle East, which is the topic of his doctoral thesis.

The colloquium is jointly sponsored by Waikato University's Department of Political Science and Public Policy, the Centre for Continuing Education and the WEL Energy Trust Academy of Performing Arts

The day long colloquium is being held at Waikato University at the WEL Energy Trust Academy of Performing Arts.

Members of the public are welcome to attend. There is a nominal charge per person, which covers lunch and morning and afternoon tea, to assist in recouping costs.

To register interest please contact the Centre for Continuing Education on 07 858 5209 or 07 858 5205

Ends

For further information please contact:

Professor Dov Bing Department of Political Science and Public Policy Phone: 07 838 4533 Phone 07 838 4702 Or Scott Gemmil Centre for Continuing Education Phone 07 858 5207

Colloquium programme:

Saturday 27 October 2001 Wel Energy Trust Academy of Performing Arts Gate 1 or 2 Knighton Road

9:10am Islamism in Northern Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia Mr Michael Syad, Doctoral Candidate, University of Waikato

9:40am Osama bin Laden and the Terrorist Activities of al-Queda Professor Dov Bing, University of Waikato

11:00am New Zealand's Defence Policy in the Post 11 September Environment The Hon. Max Bradford, Opposition Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Defence

11:40am The World Trade Centre Suicide Bombings and the American Foreign Policy Challenge Dr Robert Pattman, Otago University

12:20pm Lunch

1:00pm The World Trade Centre Suicide Bombings and the Forced Embrace of Unconventional Warfare in the US Strategic Perspective Dr Paul Buchanan, University of Auckland

1:40pm Terrorism in the Former Soviet Central Asian States Dr Rueben Azizian, University of Auckland

2:20pm Topic to be advised Mr Philip R. Wall, Deputy Chief of Mission Embassy of the United States of America

3:00pm New Zealand and Humanity after the World Trade Centre Suicide Bombings The Rt. Hon. Phil Goff, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade

4:00pm Islam, the West and the Hegelian Paradigm Dr. Leanne Piggott, University of Sydney

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