Jordan Times
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Unified agenda for Arab region urged at WEF
By Dalya Dajani
DEAD SEA, May 21 - World Economic Forum (WEF) Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab on
Friday urged business and government leaders from around the world to capitalize
on the partnerships they have sealed over recent years to reach a unified agenda
for the Arab region.
Speaking at the opening session of the three-day WEF, Schwab said the Arab world
should grasp the opportunities before them to ensure a peaceful and prosperous
climate for their society and generations to come.
"This meeting is a key catalyst and part of a process to shape the agenda of the
region with the specific objective to work towards peace and prosperity in the
Middle East," Schwab told the gathering.
WEF, held on the Dead Sea shores for the third consecutive year this time
around, calls upon key business and government leaders around the world to
pursue a more focused approach in addressing the region's most pressing
problems.
More than 70 sessions and related activities are slated on WEF's agenda entitled
"Seizing the Moment."
In speaking of the importance of young leaders, Schwab praised His Majesty King
Abdullah as a driving force for such a change.
He said the reform and transformation process that the international community
is urging the Arab world to undertake is really a process of regeneration.
"The process of reform and transformation, or, as I prefer to call it,
regeneration, is necessary. It's not a question of choice, it's a condition of
adaptation and way of life," Schwab said.
He said that process incorporates vision, commitment, image and positive energy.
King Abdullah addressed Friday's plenary session recalling the stages of the WEF
Dead Sea meetings.
"Two years ago, in this place, we set out to create a new future; a future of
promise for the Middle East," the King said.
He said the focus of last year's meeting was to reach out to leaders from all
sectors — public, private and civil society.
The 2005 meeting is meant to build on that progress, King Abdullah said, adding
that there was never a better opportunity for progress and positive change.
He said what was crucial was a "winning strategy."
To that end, he urged the private sector, many of whose leaders from the
international and Arab world are attending the WEF, to use their experience and
standards to get things done.
The King said any initiatives to be pursued should be clear, time-bound programs
that focus on measurable results.
He cited the "Vision 2010 for the Arab World," developed by leaders from the
private sector and civil society, as an example of such a plan that reflects the
aspirations of the Arab people.
But he stressed regional instability remains a major barrier to sustainable
development and prosperity.
"Failing to solve this issue is simply not an option."
Acknowledging the significant challenges, the King said there were also
opportunities. He pointed to the Palestinians' and Israelis' recommitment to the
peace process and the critical prospect of bringing water from the Red Sea to
save the Dead Sea.
He said these projects hinged on bringing peace to the region as a whole,
including a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which he stated as
"two states, living beside each other in peace and security," and support for a
stable and unified Iraq.
King Abdullah challenged the participants to come up with ideas, as "change
agents," that would make peace and prosperity possible in the Middle East.
This is the third consecutive year that the WEF is being held in Jordan, under
the theme “Seizing the Moment.” Participants are expected to examine a number of
themes including economic growth, peace and security, reform and the Middle East
in the global economy, as well as society and change over the upcoming two days.