Qatar's Hamad says innovation must respect rights

Doha: Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni arrived in Qatar on Sunday to attend a three-day conference on Democracy, Development and Free Trade.

Livni arrived amid tight security at the event which was inaugurated by the Emir, Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani.

"Innovation and modernisation can only be realised by means of popular participation and respect of human rights," said the Emir addressing some 300 high profile delegates from across the world.

"Development depends on the level of stability… Great nations realise that the rate of progress depends on what they have prepared for their citizens."

Also addressing the conference with a key-note speech, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan recalled Turkey's democratic process and said democracy and development were interlinked.

"Democracy is successful only if it is based on social dynamics... And the more democratised a country is, the more economically developed it becomes," said Erdogan.

Addressing the opening ceremony Hans-Gert Pottering, President of the European Parliament, said following discussions with the Qatari authorities yesterday, he was planning to propose that the Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly host representatives of the Gulf Consultative Councils as permanent observers.

Political figures, intellectuals, diplomats, academics, high ranking officials and businessmen are attending the conference.

Energy security, international cooperation, free trade, common markets, regional and international stability and the viability of evolving regional blocs will also be high on the agenda.