Forum calls for economic and political reforms Thursday, 12 May 2011 04:00

DOHA: The 11^th Doha Forum on Democracy, Development and Free Trade and Enriching the Middle East’s Economic Future Conference concluded yesterday with a call for a comprehensive regional political and economic reforms.

“Politics and economy, which are interdependent, are the two major issues explored in this year’s forum. We should go further toward development in both since there is no political progress without economic development,” said Professor Steven L Spiegel, Director of the Ucla Centre for Middle East Development (CMED), University of California - Los Angeles.

H E Assistant Foreign Minister for Follow up Affairs Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi said the current political crisis in the region could not be solved without economic reforms.

Al Rumaihi expressed hope of narrowing gaps and stabilising the region’s political and security sides as it advances in the process of democratic reform. Doha Forum focused on the reforms of international institutions including the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), scheduled to hold a workshop here next month, he said.

The forum presented a number of recommendations which came out during the three-day course of intense debates and discussions involving a total of 31 sessions and workshops on various topics centred on regional politics and economy.

Among the recommendations presented is economic development focusing on job creation, a significant component of political development, according to Spiegel.

He also emphasised franchising as a way of enhancing and diversifying the economy in Qatar and the region saying ‘Qatar might become the Singapore in the Middle East as a franchising hub.’

Expansion of dialogue between Asia and the Middle East in the area of energy, partnerships in film production, energy and environment concerns, and promotion of free trade zone at international level were among the many recommendations mentioned by Spiegel contained on a paper to be given to the participants.

Dr Mohammed Al Musfer, Professor, Qatar University, who chaired a workshop on political transformation in the region, enumerated some of the significant outcomes of the workshop after gathering the opinion of the participants on various issues.

Call for countries to get rid of dictatorship and oppression, establishment of civil organisations and sovereign states, and no co-existence with Israel unless they respect the peace process were some of the common views of the participants.

Dr Adel Iskandar of Georgetown University, Washington, who moderated the workshop on ‘The Role of Youth and Democracy Transformation’ also presented recommendations among which are for Qatar to continue investment in education focusing on arts and technology, recognize the indispensable role of the youth and maximizing participation of countries in the Arab region.

The Peninsula