The interns. lax-1&1 Institute for Strateg'r? I 'Jdies MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING between The International Institute for Strategic Studies and The Kingdom of Bahrain on The "55 Regional Security Summit The Manama Dialogue 2013-2016 Submitted by Dr John Chipman CMC Director-General and Chief Executive The International Institute for Strategic Studies Arundel Home 13?15 Arundel Street Introduction The 1155 Manama Dialogue has become the central pillar of Middle East ragional security architecture and is crucial to its development. The unique format of the Manama Dialogue offers unrivalled opportunities for inter-govemmental exchanges on sensitive regional issues and provides access for numerous bilateral and multilateral meetings. The attendance of world-class journalists, experts and business leaders helps to sharpen the public debate, and ensure transparency on key questions. The recognises the essential and valued support of the Kingdom of Bahrain and many agencies of the government in support of the Manama Dialogue process. The Kingdom of Bahrain acknowledges the efforts of the [158 and its staff in creating the Dialogue and ensuring its rapid and impressive growth. This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Kingdom of Bahrain and The lntemational Institute for Strategic Studies (1155) formalises the organisation and hosting of the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain for the years 2013 to 2016. This MOU will take effect upon signing and will remain in force until the conclusion of the Manama Dialogue in 2016. Development and Growth of the Manama Dialogue From its inauguration in 2004, the 1158 has sought to establish more than a security mnference and over seven years has moulded the Manama Dialogue into an institution that is now widely recognised as the most in?uential annual security gathering in the Middle East. This rapid development is clear from the increased levels of participation from the inaugural year of 2004 to 2010: the number of official government delegations has almost doubled from 16 to 30; the associated number of respective ministers and deputy ministers has almost tripled from 10 to 26; government ministers tend now to stay for much or all of the Dialogue; the total number of delegates has risen from 160 to nearly 400; the total number of participants involved in the process has increased from several hundred to over 1,750. This growth has had an enormous impact on other areas of the organisation of the Manama Dialogue and has in?uenced significantly the allocation of 1158 resources. larger delegations with very clear objectives generate much greater demands: 1158 coordinated bilateral meetings now number in the hundreds; a highly sophisticated and integrated globalpresspolicyhas communications strategies have liq-3 3" I A noticeable impact is on logistical requirements. both in terms of capacity and duration In 2004, the Ritz Carlton was sufficient to accommodate the total number of participants and support staff for the Manama Dialogue. However, in 2010 the ?00!th ed: 0 the allocation of six hotels for participants; 0 the running of ten shuttle bus routes and 12 SUVS to transport delegates to and from the various locations; the construction of temporary banqueting facilities at the Ritz Carlton Hotel. the Manama Dialogue is a priority in the "55 calendar and all senior and directing staff are tasked to confirm government delegations and add academic rigour and value to the agenda and process. However, perhaps the most notable statistic is the number of "55 staff who play a direct role in the planning, coordination and operation of the Manama Dialogue as: in 2N4, a team of 6 individuals contributed generally to the effort; 0 in 2010, a group of 19 individuals worked throughout the year in a number of significant roles specific to the Manama Dialogue. The USS commits itself to devoting substantial energy and resources to ensure that the Manama Dialogue retains its place as the premier forum in the Gulf for security consultations between the participating delegations of ministers. military chiefs and other senior officials. It will consult closely with all participating governments to ensure that the Dialogue is structured and organised to meet their interests in an open and inclusive pan- regional summit of security leaders and professionals. The 1155 will continue to refine and improve the Manama Dialogue model from year to year to ensure its vitality and professional relevance. While the additional costs associated with the rapid growth of the Manama Dialogue have been met by the USS, both the H58 and the Kingdom of Bahrain agree that the vastly increased organisational demands of the Dialogue in its present and prospective form require the allocation of proportionately increased financial resources to ensure the continued quality, vitality and successful development of this vital pillar of the regional security infrastructure. Against that background, the Kingdom of Bahrain offers the full and necessary support to the 1155 to continue the management and operation of the Manama Dialogue over a new four-year cycle. Aim and Organisation The joint aim will be to consolidate the position of the Manama Dialogue as a regional security institution that drives multilateral discussions Gulf stability. I .- For a. years 2013 2016:mt?cved to: preparatory havelg?f?7?1_?s a; .1343 $9312? ?in .. . Manama Dialogue it? I countries; the development of an agenda and the issuing 0? inVitations to govemmental and to nongovernmental participants; liaising with senior officials from all participatin governments on the roles of all officials; ensuring the provision of information from algl participants to meet protocol and security needS: arranging travel for delegates where working directly with all required hotels on necessary aspects of accommodation, transportation, and catering; arranging for meeting room rental, banqueting, full conference staging, technical support and necessary interpretation for the conference; providing full staff support before, during and after the summit; developing and implementing a global communications and press Strategy for the Manama Dialogue; and pin-paring a summary report of proceedings. The USS will be constantly alert to the need to modernise the organisation of the Dialogue and ensure that it has state-of-the art support. The ?55 will have contact with the offices of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad bin lsa Al Khalifa, and will continue to work closely with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and other Bahraini government ministers and national security leaders as may be appropriate. The [155 will also, as required, work with senior figures in the Kingdom so that certain invitations to key leaders globally are reinforced officially. Initial Fixed Sum and Annual Payments The ?55 will continue to develop this institution as one of the leading global venues for international security diplomacy and, to ensure success in the period from 2013 to 2016, the Kingdom of Bahrain shall contribute an initial fixed sum of ?1,000,000 by 30 September 2011 to propel the next cycle of Manama Dialogues. This contribution will allow the [155 to secure permanent global staffing arrangements and make relevant technological and communications investments to maintain strong development of the Manama Dialogue over the subsequent cycle of meetings by: Covering IT infrastructure and software development expenditure to support the seamless and international management of the Manama Dialogue; Enhancing the "55 website platform to ensure rapid and effective communication to Dialogue delegates and press; Supporting the costs of enhanced press and international communication efforts to improve the ability of the 1158 to generate more effective and wide-spread publicity on the Manama Dialogue; Supporting digital and other announcements and advertisements for the Manama Dialogue at crucial points during the year; Enabling the continued investment in innovative conference staging and audio- visual aids. This MOU will take effect as soon as the initial fixed sum is paid. into the bank account of the 1155 in London in two equal instalments of ?1,800,000 payable on 1 lanuary and 1 June each year in which the Manama Dialogue is held, with the first such payment due 1 January 2013 and the second instalment due 1 June 2013. The 1155 designates the Managing Director of "SS-Middle East to administer this MOU and the Kingdom of Bahrain designates the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance to execute the financial commitments made in this MOU. Termination and Force Majeure This agreement may be terminated by either party before 31 March of the calendar year in which the Dialogue is scheduled to take place. In the event that the Kingdom of Bahrain terminates the agreement, any funds advanced to 1135 at the point of termination would not be refundable. The 1158 may terminate the agreement at any time for reasons of force majeure, such as natural disasters, wars, rebellions, insurrections, martial law, acts of terrorism, or other major events outside the parties' control that seriously hinder the convening of the Manama Dialogue or lead the Trustees of the to determine that the reputational risk to the Institute is substantial. Under these circumstances, any funds advanced to at the time of termination would not be refundable. Scheduling and Security Each Manama Dialogue will normally be convened for a Friday - Sunday weekend in December with the exact scheduling to be confirmed each year subject to consultation. The Kingdom of Bahrain will assume the full costs of security for the summits as it judges necessary including any catering, infrastructure and transport requirements directly associated with the security needs of the event. Furthermore, the Kingdom of Bahrain will determine and meet all protocol requirements for governmental delegations. The Kingdom of Bahrain will separately ensure that all@ at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and Spa are available to the 1155 during the relevant conference period, and con?rm this directly to the Ritz-Carlton hotel management Con?icts of Interest and Confidentiality Should the USS intend to continue organising W_Dhlogu? beyond 2016, the Kingdom of Bahrain, in recognitimofitseffoag 3. 1. to the m. of olBahraln and orany related information to any third party unless the written consent of the other party has been obtained and both parties shall take all necessary steps to confidential all classi?ed information which is disclosed or obtained in relation to wagon, and neither shall divulge such inlorrnation to any third party. Agreed Dated and Signed lo\\ - Sh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohamed Al Khalifa Minister of Foreign Affairs Kingdom of Bahrain September 201] I . . Sh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Minister of Finance Kingdom of Bahrain 20?. September 201 John Chipman CMG Director-Gemini and Chief Executive g, The International Institute for Strategic .