Posted on 04/10/2005 3:43:39 PM PDT by Valin
POLITICAL reform and popular participation in decision-making are no longer optional in the Middle East but are necessary and almost inevitable, HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani said yesterday.
“The absence of democracy and the slackening in political reform have led to most of the economic and social suffering, especially in the region,” the Emir said in an address read out by HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani at the opening session of the Second Doha Development Forum (DDF 2005) at the Ritz.
The session was attended by a gathering of political leaders, intellectuals, economists and officials of global and regional organisations involved in promoting sustainable development.
The Emir stressed that to establish a more stable international order in general and at regional and national levels, it requires building modern institutions that take as their slogan the concept of good governance, which he called the “sustainable reform” while addressing the UN General Assembly last September.
“Sustainable reform demands that it should not be seasonal fervour attached to international pressures, but must originate from genuine conviction,” he explained.
Hence, it is very important in today’s world to combine support of various tracks of development with good governance to unite the efforts for development issues.
“Sustainable reform is not impossible for our Arab world,” remarked the Emir while observing that “in most of our countries, we have not started the march towards democracy.”
The greatest challenge facing those concerned with reform issues in the region is the answer to the big question of how to change the perception of reform as an enemy whose impact is feared into a friend whose benefit is anticipated.
“We, in Qatar, have realised some years back that reform is not only a plan to be announced, nor a programme to be drawn, but it is a living culture and a way of thinking that need to be sown and deepened,” he pointed out.
Qatar endeavoured to upgrade its educational institutions, with the aid of international expertise, and moved in confidently towards establishing a democratic system based on Shura.
“We set up plans for political, economic and social development that make the citizen, be it man or woman, participate in the development march and the political process through parliamentary elections,” he said.
The Emir highlighted the fact that the development process adopted by Qatar has grown at higher rates, and the volume of new investments in the new projects has totalled more than $60bn.
The confidence of not only foreign firms but also international rating institutions in Qatar’s economy increased, thanks to political stability, monetary policy, investment incentives and transparency and credibility in dealings.
“We are continuing work on improving the investment atmosphere by building infrastructure, industrial cities and updating legislation so that the foreign investor can now own 100% of the capital in several economic sectors compatible with the development requirements,” he said.
The Emir stressed that Qatar is still concerned with having a comprehensive development policy that includes all economic, social and political spheres, despite progressing a lot on several counts.
Opening the way for the freedom of expression, developments in educational sector topped by the Education City and allowing wide scope for women’s positive participation were cited by him.
Greater role for the private sector to participate in the development process and efforts to widen the base of participation in rule and the building of the state of law and institutions were also listed by the Emir.
“We have adopted several initiatives that form, today, some of the most conspicuous concerns, where we placed the issue of development as a priority by which we arrive at realising our aspirations to build the homeland, improve the living standard of citizens and preserve our natural resources,” he observed.
The Emir described DDF 2005 as a platform for constructive communication between governmental decision-makers, academic experts and representatives of the civil society.
“We view this as a nucleus for interaction, not only for enriching knowledge but also for opening new horizons that expand the scope of constructive dialogue between peoples in a civilised manner,” he remarked.
The Emir was also of the view that the forum should serve to alleviate sufferings, eradicate the causes of poverty and injustice, narrow the technological gap and create a favourable environment for the requirements of development.
“Hence it is our insistence that sustained development be linked with sustainable governance,” he stated.
The Emir wished for the continuance of constructive dialogue for realisation of common goals and for addressing development issues with a tolerant spirit, open minds and unified hearts for the enhancement of security and stability in a disturbed world.
The Emir’s address began by observing that the forum is being held at a time when political, economic and social developments in the region are the forefront of global concerns and sustainable development comes at the top of these major issues.
The forum which aims at deepening dialogue, exchanging of information and benefiting from expertise should increase effective co-operation between international institutions and governments, he urged.
“This is to guarantee a fair return to our depleting resources and consequently provide those countries and their peoples the necessary revenues to develop their economies and find alternative sources to replace oil and secure good income for their future generations,” he said.
The Emir recalled that Qatar’s chairmanship of the Group of 77 countries and China has resulted in launching a search for international consent of views on development that leads to an accurate balance between security concerns and the goal of eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable development.
“This is out of our conviction that peace and security cannot be maintained unless they are based on development and justice.”
Recalling that Qatar hosted last December the Trade and Investment Forum for countries of the South, the Emir said: “Our country believes in the importance of co-operation between countries of the South.”
The Emir added that Qatar would have the honour of hosting the Second Summit of the South in Doha next June.
For a view from the "Street"
Chan'ad Bahraini
http://chanadbahraini.blogspot.com/
I worked in Qatar for a year as a contractor. Doha is the only city I have every lived in where I felt completely safe.
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