Kamil sent me this (I cite with his permission): "BRISMES, the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies, has just ended its Annual Conference held in Exeter for the first time since 2003. This time though, the conference did not feature a 90-minute (yes 90 not 30 minutes as reported) video-linked address by Mu'ammar Gaddafi. The rambling vintage Gaddafi addressing a large hall packed with delegates was introduced by the Vice Chancellor (now Sir) Steve Smith who remained by the screen for the duration. Smith had earlier that year met Gaddafi in Libya, and there was agreement on a £75 million deal that included Exeter being “lead advisor” to Libya’s National Programme for Postgraduate Development. ( ). Exeter says nothing came of that but this is not all there is to the story.
This year, BRISMES went safe and had British Foreign Office officials as keynote speakers at the conference. The catchphrase this revolutionary year, should have been "Stop the World"."
This year, BRISMES went safe and had British Foreign Office officials as keynote speakers at the conference. The catchphrase this revolutionary year, should have been "Stop the World"."
