April, 1996
A council meeting was held in Paris and the following
points emerged:
1. A letter has been received from Philippe Fargues reporting that the
appointment of scholars as researchers or fellows at CEDEJ and other French
centres in the Middle East and North Africa is now open to all European
citizens. The list of vacancies was published in February, and applications
should be sent to:
Sous-Direction des Sciences Humaines et de l'Archeologie
Ministère des Affaires Etrangères
244 Bd Saint-Germain
F-75303 Paris 07-SP
2. Presidency and Secretariat
In relation to the election of a new President, there was a discussion of
whether the office should pass to the French. This also raised the question of
language used in meetings - should this still continue to be English? The tasks
of the President and Secretary were outlined helping to organise a joint
conference every three years, producing the Directory, encouraging EURAMES
cooperation with other European organisations, especially the ESF and SOCRATES,
for example, exchanging information and organising Council meetings. It was
agreed that Derek Hopwood would continue as President pending members'
initiatives. Paul Dumont, President of AFEMAM agreed to raise the item for
discussion at a forthcoming AFEMAM Council meeting. As far as the Secretariat
is concerned, it was noted that Dr Suha Taji-Farouki may not be in a position
to continue in office. Two names of possible British replacements were
mentioned. It was agreed that the matter would be pursued once the outcome of
discussions concerning the future of the Presidency is known.
3. New members update
The meeting welcomed Professor Maria Petricioli as President of the newly
established Italian Association, Societa di Studi sul Medio Oriente (SESAMO).
The meeting was also informed that a Polish Association had been established,
and that plans were under way to establish a Flemish Association.
4. It was reported that the German Association (DAVO) had held its first
conference in November 1995, and that it now issues a comprehensive newsletter
edited by Gunter Mayer. A request was made for all EURAMES Council members to
send Dr Meyer information concerning their national association activities. Dr
Meyer's request for the addresses and fax numbers of all member national
associations for inclusion m the German newsletter was also noted.
5. Directory Update
The President reported that he had been informed that funds have been made
available for updating the Directory. However, he underlined the extreme
difficulties he had encountered in endeavouring to extract these funds. It was
agreed that the format of the new Directory should be improved, and that the
revised Directory could possibly be made available on-line.
6. (a) Association de liaison entre Centres de Documentation sur le Monde Arabe
It was reported that Association's office has now been established in
Casablanca with Professor Raymond as President. Its objective is to coordinate
the activities of Middle East research centres on both sides of the
Mediterranean. The next ALMA conference will take place in April 1996 in
Granada with the theme of Spanish-Arabic philosophy. ALMA plans to hold a
conference and general meeting once every two years. Other ALMA projects
include the development of a CD-ROM catalogue of works published in Arabic on
the Middle East, together with a directory of Institutes concentrating on the
Middle East.
6. (b) SOCRATES
It was reported that the University of Florence is willing to coordinate the
new programme of exchanges under SOCRATES (superseding ERASMUS) with nine
European universities.
7. The President reported the establishment of a network coordinated by
CIDOB - the Centre d'Informatio I Doementacio Internacionals a Barcelona. It
aims to facilitate the exchange of information amongst Mediterranean research
institutes.
8. AFEMAM / EURAMES Conference in Aix-en-Provence, 4-7 July 1996.
600 applications had been received, there would he some 90 workshops on
different themes. It was agreed that the President would organise a two hour
session on Middle East Studies in Europe, as each EURAMES member national
association to send one participant. In addition Paul Dumont asked all member
associations to send to him a two to ten page report on their activities and on
Middle East Studies in their country, preferably on diskette. He would publish
these together in a pamphlet for distribution at the conference.
Derek Hopwood
President EURAMES
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