A presentation by the CIC National Capital Branch’s Middle East Study Group.

Bio: Vincent is a retired British diplomat. His last posting was as Consul-General, Jerusalem (2010-14), responsible locally for British Government relations with the Occupied Palestinian Territories (Gaza, East Jerusalem and the West Bank). This entailed talking with the PLO and the Palestinian Authority (but not Hamas), seeking to help resolve the Israel/Palestine conflict, and working to strengthen ties between the British and Palestinian peoples. He accompanied President Mahmoud Abbas to London twice for talks with Prime Minister David Cameron. Vincent studied Arabic after joining the British Diplomatic Service in 1975. Before Jerusalem, he was Ambassador to Libya (2006-10) and High Commissioner to Malta (2002-06). Earlier he served in Iraq, Syria, France and the European Union (Brussels). He formed lasting friendships with Canadian diplomatic colleagues. He is a trustee of the British charity Medical Aid for Palestinians, patron of the Britain Palestine Friendship and Twinning Network and Chairman of the Libyan British Business Council. He advises a risk management consultancy, MS Risk, whose CEO is Canadian/Irish (Liam Morrissey). Occasionally Vincent writes or speaks on the Israel/Palestine conflict. He advises the Balfour Project (www.balfourproject.org), seeking to shed light on the past and present impact of the Balfour Declaration in this, its Centenary year. The Declaration still matters today –  most of all to Palestinians, who see it as designed to confound their (now acknowledged) right to self-determination.

Cost and registration: There is no fee to attend this event, however, advanced registration is required. To register, contact Hamid Jorjani, Chair of the MESG, at hjorjani@bell.net