MEC RISK Service
Services offered by the MEC RISK Assessment Services (MRAS) include:
RISK Audit - Assessing what needs to be done to deal with short-term threats to personnel and resources. Please call for other information.
RISK Hotline - Tactical security/political advice on day to day risk exposure using a hotline to which companies can subscribe.
RISK Assessment - An assessment of specific threat posed to employees or business resources wherever located offering advice on how to minimise the risk.
RISK Headlines - A weekly summary of key developments and analysis of what they mean for subscribing companies.
RISK Studies - In depth analysis of key players and developments affecting the relationship between Islamic countries and the West and possible developments.
RISK Scenarios - Quarterly scenario round-tables with experts helping companies and organisations understand present and future developments. These could be country specific such as Iraq or sector specific such as airlines in the Arab World.
RISK Website - Subscribing members will have access to the information described above and an opportunity to exchange comments and views on a restricted members-only discussion group.
RISK Diligence - Offers due diligence on individuals and companies for companies active in the Arab World.
RISK Screening - Offering pre-employment screening and recruitment of staff to work in the Arab World.
MEC RISK Publications
Summary
Re-assessing security priorities following the terrorist attacks in the United States requires expert advice on the politics of terrorism. The difficulty of understanding the issues has increased dramatically. The MEC RISK Publications will play their part by bringing to decision makers a fuller understanding of the factors which relate to the current threat of terrorism stemming from Islamic fundamentalist sources. These threaten traditional Islamic governments and Western democracies in equal measure.
MEC RISK Publications
MEC is planning two new publications to address current concerns. These are:
Understanding Islam in the New Millennium
Islam, a region of peace and tolerance, has traditionally exhibited unmitigated hostility towards terrorism as a means of achieving political objectives. Muslim terrorist groups are currently more rooted in national liberation ideologies of the 19th and 20th centuries than they are in the Islamic tradition, exhibiting the symbolism, language and organisational structure of the anti-colonial struggle of the developing world. How can the attacks on New York and Washington be explained in Islamic terms and what effect do they have on the image of Islam as a universal religion?
Afghanistan - A Regional Nightmare
Since Alexander’s time, Afghanistan has successfully frustrated the efforts of foreign invaders. Can the Alliance succeed in a region which defeated the British and Russian armies? If so what should the strategy be to achieve the security objectives of the new Alliance? The publication will seek to explain the complex tribal and political background against which military actions are taking place. It will describe the indigenous forces operating within Afghanistan and across its frontiers including the "Northern Alliance". Will Pakistan and India be drawn in to fight a virtual proxy war with India backing the Northern Alliance? And will Pakistan end up backing a new Taliban with an eye to the forces already fighting in Kashmir? How will Iranian interests be furthered by Tehran. And how will the Alliance succeed in eradicating terrorism without starting a new religious war?
Contact MEC RISK Publications:
Companies and organisations interested in these studies are invited to contact MEC to discuss their interest. Study sponsors will have an opportunity to review the study briefs and agree the focus of the reports. Subscribers have an opportunity to purchase the completed studies. MEC analysts with a wide variety of expert backgrounds including diplomacy, political and security assessment, and think tank expertise will be combined to draft these and other new RISK issues. Analysts with an interest in these topics are invited to send details of their interest and expertise.
RISK Seminar
Summary
MEC offers in-house briefings to companies and organisations wishing to review risk exposure An example of such a briefing is described below.
Doing Business in the New Middle East
The MEC RISK Assessment Service offered a half-day morning seminar based on private invitations on Friday 16 November 2001 in the Richards Butler Dome Room, 15 St Botolph Street, London. The seminar discussed changes in the Middle East market, which have occurred since the 11 September attack on the World Trade Centre.
Structure
The programme involves expert analysis from individuals with practical experience of the politics and business of the Middle East. It was organized by MEC, which has two decades’ experience of business development in the region. Speakers include those with experience in government, finance, commerce, academia, politics and security. The meeting was be chaired by Oliver Miles CMG, former British ambassador to Libya former head of Near East and North Africa Department at the FCO.
The Programme
9.00: Registration
9.30: Introduction: Oliver Miles, Chairman, MEC International
9.45: The Middle East after 11 September: George Joffe, Centre for International Studies, Cambridge
10.15: The Business Outlook: Sir David Gore-Booth, Middle East Adviser to the chairman of HSBC
10.35: The Policy of the Coalition; William Patey, head of Middle East Department, FCO
10.50: Discussion
11.00: Coffee
11.30: The Arab View: Ghayth Armanazi, former Arab League Representative in London
11.50: The Military Outlook: Maj Douglas McNary USAF Retd, former White House liaison officer for the USAF
12.10: Some Commercialand Legal Implications: Hugh Thompson, partner, Doha office, Richards Butler
12.30: Concluding Discussion
13.00: Lunch
Sponsorship
MEC is seeking commercial sponsors for the event to allow participation to be free of charge to ensure maximum participation. Sponsors will be entitled to a speaking opportunity, promotion in event literature and opportunities to exhibit at the gathering. Sponsorship is £2,000 excluding VAT.
Contact
The MEC RISK Assessment Service personnel comprise senior MEC consultants with a wide variety of expert backgrounds.
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