Change process in Arab world still 'wanting'

Abu Dhabi: The signs of progress in the Arab world and North Africa are hopeful, but the process of reform still has a long way to go, civil society leaders and government officials told the 'Forum for the Future' on Sunday.

They stressed independent civil society and media continue to face challenging environments throughout the region, and much work remains to build effective institutions of democratic, accountable governance.

Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Foreign Minister, told the opening session of the Forum, co-chaired by the UAE and Japan, that following high levels of human development, human rights and women's empowerment, the country continues to develop "our domestic political, educational, economic and social reforms."

John Negroponte, US Deputy Secretary of State, said the forum is an important signal of the region's commitment to ease challenges faced by independent civil society and the media and to create more opportunities for popular participation in decision-making and for the free expression of ideas.

He added that the "partnership between G8, Middle East and North African governments and civil society is a process that outlines a framework of universal, democratic principles for strengthening the relationship between governments and civil society in the region. Seiko Hashimoto, Japanese State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, called for cooperation between the G8 leading industrial nations and Arab states, saying dialogue within the forum is "extremely important."

The meeting was the fifth since the forum was launched by US President George W. Bush in 2004.