Senior officials from Arab and Asian nations gathered in Morocco to listen to American proposals for democratization of the Middle East, with US Secretary of State Colin Powell telling them that "political and economic freedom go hand in hand."
As the meeting opened in the Moroccan capital city Rabat, Powell told participants that change could only come from within, but he highlighted the link between democracy and economic development.
"Countries with active political participation by all people tend to enjoy greater investment, economic growth and educational excellence," said Powell. "Now is not the time to argue about the pace of democratic reform or whether economic reform must precede political reform," he urged.
In his address to the meeting, Arab League chief Amr Mussa insisted that only peace in the Middle East could pave the way for democracy and economic growth. "We should call here for a comprehensive, permanent and lasting peace in the Middle East that would be based on all levels of development," said Mussa, according to AFP. "That is the guarantee for success."
The "Forum for the Future," set to initiate a new partnership between the BMENA (Broad Middle East and North Africa region) and the group of 8 most industrialized countries, opened under the co-chairmanship of Moroccan minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, and Powell.
The Forum, bringing together foreign and finance ministers from over 20 countries, is a key element in the “initiative for partnership” between the two regions, outlined last June during the G-8 summit in Sea Island, USA.
The BMENA includes Afghanistan, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian Authority, Bahrain, Egypt, UAE, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey and Yemen. Iran and Sudan are not attending the conference, said Moroccan government spokesman, Nabil Benabdellah.
Regional organizations, the Arab League, the Maghreb Arab Union (UMA), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Commission and Union, are also attending the Rabat Forum that is held following a series of meetings organized from March to June 2004.
