Timur Goksel

Education:

Ankara Academy of Economc and Commercial Sciences (1977-1978)
PhD studies in International Trade and Marketing (did not complete degree)

Middle East Technical Univesrity, Anakra (1975)
BA in Public Administration

Academy of Economic and Commercial Sciences, Anakra (1968)
BA in Public Finance

Biographical Statement:

After retiring from the United Nations with 33 years of service, 24 years of which was with the peacekeeping mission in South Lebanon, I have been busy lecturing and teaching about the Middle East conflict, the UN role in it and relevant military/security issues. Among some of the more interesting seminars I lectured at were: 1) Security in the Middle East, risks of war and opportunities for peace organized by the Polish Institute of International Affairs; 2) State Building and state stability in the Arab World organized by Kondrad Adenuer Stiftung; 3) International Seminar on Security and Defense in the Mediterranean organized by the Spanish Ministry of Defense and Barcelona International Studies Center; 4) International Operational Environment Seminar organized by the US Army Training and Doctrine Command; 5) Conference of A historical and critical view of the Middle East organized in Madrid by The center of Study about the Middle East; 6) Conference on Middle East in Global and Perspectives organized by the Middle East Technical University, Turkey; 7) International Symposium on The Middle East: its future among uncertainties and security problems, organized Turkish Army Strategic Research and Study center; 8) Toward a more secure and stable Lebanon: Prospects for security sector reform organized by Henry L. Stimson Center, Washington DC; 9) Lebanon Working Group, US Institute of Peace; and 10) Lebanon security sector, organized by Rand Corporation for US civilian-military officials.

Although a part-time instructor at AUB, I serve regularly on thesis committees. I served of four in 2010-11. Moreover, I work with thesis researchers from foreign universities and news media, and I try to help out as much as I can. Other academic interests include keeping in touch with my daughter who is doing great at`Sarah Lawrence College [now a senior] and my son, a junior at Les Roches International School for Hospitality Management in Switzerland. Taking care of a wildly beautiful and hyper 2-year old dog, Vahsi, takes up rest of my time.

Teaching and Lecturing Experience:

Lectured in seminars and workshops for senior level diplomats and military officials on public information, communication policies in peacekeeping, theory and practice of peacekeeping, and international organizations in Middle East environment. Lectured on regular basis to UNIFIL military staff on Lebanese politics, the Middle East and techniques of peacekeeping as well as to military workshops on liaison and information collection operations.  Since retirement have been lecturing frequently on south Lebanon, UN peacekeeping, Mediterranean security and the regional conflict issues to academic institutions, think tanks, to government officials and major NGOs.

Professional Experience:

Joined UN in 1968 as Information Assistant at Ankara Information Office. Did compulsory national service between 1973-75. Rejoined UN in April 1975 as the officer-in-charge of the newly opened UN Information Center in Ankara. Assigned as Press Information Officer/Spokesman to UNIFIL at Naqoura in February, 1979 which entailed dealing with local, regional and international news media in a sensitive environment, giving briefings and using the news media as an instrument  of conflict management. Negotiated conflicts with official and unofficial armed parties and managed discreet contacts with the parties on behalf of the UN.  Assigned as Senior Adviser of UNIFIL in addition to the Spokesman’s function in 1995, which entailed, among others, discreet contacts with official and unofficial local, regional and international parties; mediating and conflict management between the parties and the UN; between parties to the conflict, and regularly reporting to the Secretary General and the Security Council on regional developments.

Publications:

Wrote or co-authored several papers on peacekeeping and Middle East conflict for the Heinrich Boell Foundation, EUROMESCO and European Institute of the Mediterranean.