http://www.international.ucla.edu/cnes Facilitate cutting-edge research about Middle East and Near Eastern Studies at UCLA en-us The UCLA Center for Near Eastern Studies is launching the “Listen to Learn” website to introduce American students to critical Middle Eastern languages.http://www.international.ucla.edu/cnes/news/article.asp?parentid=130997The foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran is not irrational—the current regime needs conflict with the United States to perpetuate itself in power, said Professor Mansour Farhang. He advised the United States to reach an implicit understanding with the regime that Iran will not develop nuclear weapons. http://www.international.ucla.edu/cnes/news/article.asp?parentid=131260David Hirsch, a UCLA librarian, travels the world to find Middle Eastern texts to add to a collection housed at UCLA.http://www.international.ucla.edu/cnes/news/article.asp?parentid=129893Several professors from the law school, the Burkle Center of International Relations and the UCLA Center of Middle East Development spoke at the panel, which primarily focused on the question of Palestinian statehood.http://www.international.ucla.edu/cnes/news/article.asp?parentid=129710Renowned Palestian poet Ghassan Zaqtan and translator Fady Joudah visit UCLA for a poetry reading on October 25th, 2012. The event was organized by Nouri Gana, Professor in the Dept. of Comparative Literature and the Dept. of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures. http://www.international.ucla.edu/cnes/news/article.asp?parentid=128774Sarah Leah Whitson, the Middle East Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, speaks on migrant worker abuse in the Middle East.http://www.international.ucla.edu/cnes/news/article.asp?parentid=128597Librarian David Hirsch has helped build the UCLA library’s 500,000-plus volumes on the Middle East, North Africa, Anatolia and Central Asia, constituting one of the most significant Middle Eastern research collections in the U.S.http://www.international.ucla.edu/cnes/news/article.asp?parentid=128500Professor James Gelvin has been invited to the First Istanbul World Forum. http://www.international.ucla.edu/cnes/news/article.asp?parentid=128325UCLA Film and Television Archive celebrates tradition, conviction of Iranian filmmakers with eight-part serieshttp://www.international.ucla.edu/cnes/news/article.asp?parentid=125605Center for Near Eastern Studies collaborates to keep memory of al-Mutanabbi Street alive http://www.international.ucla.edu/cnes/news/article.asp?parentid=125190