ASU News

Lisa Issac, who holds a PhD in International Relations, addressed a session focused on the new challenges facing the Middle East region. During a two day discussion session, organized by the Valdai Discussion Club with support of  the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which took place in Moscow on February 4–5. The theme of the conference was “The Middle East 2025: Learning from the Past, Not Getting Lost in the Present, and Planning for the Future.”
The conference attracted over 50 experts, political activists, and intellectuals from 15 countries, including Algeria, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine, Russia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Turkey. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov participated in the first round of discussions as a guest of honor, accompanied by numerous high-ranking international delegates.
 
The 14th Middle East Conference focused on critical developments in the region, including the regime change in Syria, the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, the ongoing conflict in Gaza, and the crisis in the Red Sea. Participants explored strategies for reducing regional tensions and evaluated Russia's approaches to addressing these pressing issues.

Dr. Lisa Isaac, a member of the International Cooperation Department at Adyghe State University, participated in the conference. As an expert in international relations, she holds a PhD in the field. Dr. Isaac defended her doctoral dissertation on international relations and West Asian politics at the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in India. Her dissertation was titled "International Media Coverage of the American Intervention in Syria: A Study of The New York Times and The Guardian (2011-2018)."

Lisa Issac was a speaker at the third session of the discussion “Session III. Syria: What Next?” on the new challenges facing the Middle East region, drawing the attention of specialists to the need to focus on the upcoming research on the nature of the intellectual atmosphere that will fill the ideological vacuum in the region, as this will determine the future regional and international relations of the region.
 
It is important to highlight that the Valdai discussion club in the Middle East continues to be one of the Club's largest annual international events. Over its fourteen-year history, the conference has closely tracked developments in the region, spanning from the aftermath of the US invasion of Iraq and the Arab Spring to the ongoing conflicts in Syria and Libya. Consequently, the 14th Middle East Conference focused on examining the latest developments in the region, engaging representatives from a wide range of stakeholders. The two-day agenda was specifically designed to facilitate this discussion, featuring an opening ceremony, six thematic sessions, and a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.