World leaders to propose solutions to issues

Some 1,500 politicians, business and media leaders gathered in Dubai for a "meeting of minds" to discuss chronic political, social and development problems facing the Arab world and offer short- and long-term cures.

The high-profile event is the brainchild of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister, who decided earlier this year to expand the scope and reach of the forum to cover the entire Arab world with its more than 300 million people.

Set up as Dubai Strategy Forum in 2001, the gathering is now officially dubbed the "Arab Strategy Forum". Speeches and debates over three days starting today will highlight the main challenges that will face the Arab countries until 2020 with the focus expected to be on democracy, the economy, good governance, development and social issues.

Speakers include former US President Bill Clinton, a frequent visitor of the Middle East, former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Al Hariri, Qatar's First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaikh Hamad bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani, Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, Palestinian legislator Hanan Ash-rawi and a host of other Arab and foreign leaders.

Setting the tone for the discussions, Shaikh Mohammad, who will deliver the keynote speech, said in a mission statement posted on the forum's website: "Our region is at crossroads and our fates are inexorably tied. We can either succeed together or fail together.

"We can choose to erect barriers that stifle growth or forge new alliances that create opportunities. The Arab Strategy Forum is about the latter. It is about dialogue, debate and networks that create new opportunities for peace, prog-ress and prosperity for our common region and our common future.

"It has been set up for the region, by the region."

Mohammad Al Gergawi, Head of Dubai Executive Office and chairman of the forum's organising committee, said the forum's importance was in the presence of speakers from around the world and the crucial issues they will discuss over a string of sessions.

"These speakers will discuss the future of our Arab nation and offer solutions that first and foremost guarantee our political and social stability," he told Gulf News on the eve of the forum.

Al Gergawi said the participants will be armed with facts and figures about the status of the Arab world now and the economic and development issues it will face by the year 2020.

"The forum will come out with a document or recommendations that will form a mechanism for action towards the problems under discussion," he added.

Nabil Al Youssef, Vice-Chairman of the organising committee said although the forum will address the challenges presently experienced by Arab countries, it will also talk about opportunities offered by the recent rise in oil revenues due to the dual increase in prices and production levels. He said the event was being held at a time when the Arab world was experiencing two foreign occupations the US-led occupation of Iraq and Israel's occupation of Palestine, in addition to the fragile security situation in the region as many countries are battling the scourge of terrorism.

"The Arab Strategy Forum will be a platform for frank discussion with the aim of finding realistic solutions to the problems especially since the forum has expanded its scope to include decision-makers on the political, economic and media fronts," Al Youssef told Gulf News.

Hakam Kanafani, Vice-Chairman of the Executive Committee for Young Arab Leaders, vowed that his group would follow up on the recommendations of the forum to ensure their implementation by various Arab governments.

"We will put together a comprehensive plan of action for the region in 2005 that complement with the initiatives issued by the committee to boost the role of young leaders in the Arab world," Kanafani said.

The participants will also be keen to hear the views of outspoken Rima Khalaf Hunaidi, a top United Nations official, whose first Arab Human Development report in 2002 has sent shockwaves in the Arab world with many commentators lambasting some Arab governments for failing to deliver on promised political and economic reforms.