Posted on 12/11/2004 12:12:09 PM PST by NormsRevenge
RABAT, Morocco (AP) - Officials from more than 20 Islamic countries said Saturday that political, economic and social reforms must go hand in hand with steps toward settling the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The commitment to reforms came during a four-hour meeting that included those Muslim nations, industrialized democracies, the Arab League and other groups.
The United States, a driving force behind the conference, sees the changes as a way to make these societies less of a breeding ground for political extremism.
At a news conference after the discussions, Secretary of State Colin Powell said he was not disappointed that the Muslim delegates insisted on linking internal reforms to the Mideast dispute.
"We're not starting reform or holding up reform. It's ongoing," Powell said. "Reform has to go on. A child needs an education now."
Much of the discussion, conducted mostly in private, focused on raising the low literacy rates in the region and on ways to provide equal treatment for women.
Economic development also was on the agenda. Treasury Secretary John Snow said the region's unemployment rate is about 50 percent.
"The best development program is a job," Snow told reporters. "And a job comes from growth."
The Arab-Israeli dispute was a recurring theme with Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal saying the "real bone of contention" for Muslims is "the Western bias toward Israel."
A statement issued at the conclusion of the conference said the participants "reaffirmed that their support for reform in the region will go hand-in-hand with their support for a just, comprehensive and lasting settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict."
The statement said the settlement should be based on U.N. Security Council resolutions, which include a call that Israel withdraw from occupied territories.
En route to Morocco on Friday night, Powell said that reform in that the Middle East conflict should not impede reform in the Islamic world.
"We can't keep pointing to the Middle East peace process as the reason we don't undertake reform efforts that are needed by these nations and as these nations have identified for themselves," Powell said.
Muslim countries "know that they can't wait for that solution to occur and not move forward," he said.
In his opening remarks to the forum, Powell said, "Ours is a long-term task requiring a long-term commitment, extending generations. This far-reaching effort starts here and now. It's a challenge that must be confronted by all of us working together."
Powell reaffirmed that the United States remained committed to the peace plan for the Mideast. He also said there is hope for a break in the impasse, with Palestinians planning to hold a presidential election on Jan. 9 and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon moving ahead with his Gaza withdrawal plan.
Iran boycotted the conference after initially indicating an intention to attend.
Powell was making nice-nice, as always. What the Saudis fear in Condi Rice.
Why? Why must everything hinge upon in this conflict? Absolutely childish -- "We're not going to reform our own societies until the Palestinians get what they want." It's like dealing with 2 year olds.
There are 2 kinds of reform-one is genuine,hard & painful reform like what we seen in Serbia or in Ireland.Then there is the type seen in Saudi Arabia,Pakistan or Egypt,where Hosni Mubarak & Musharraf win with a 95% popular majority-such reforms are primarily aimed at an audience who think that an election is the answer to all ills & also those who provide millions in arms & aid.
All these countries need term limits so these awful men don't get in power, stay in power, then get their offspring in power.
Dear Idiot Foreign Minister,
If the positions were reversed, and a tiny Muslim Saudi Arabia were surrounded by angry hostile Jews verbally abusing and threatening them daily and physically blowing them up at every opportunity, would you not want a western bias toward Saudi Arabia?
Please think before answering...
And that is what Afghanistan and Iraq are about....course he couldn't say that to the Thugs.........
"...Secretary of State Colin Powell said he was not disappointed that the Muslim delegates insisted on linking internal reforms to the Mideast dispute."
Christians are being tortured and murdered by muslims in Sudan, because of Israel?
Philippines?
Russian children are shot in the back by muslims?
I realize Colin Powell is doing the diplomatic thing, but often, very often, it should be made clear the problems with islam are FAR greater than a dispute with Israel about a few square miles.
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