Jordan Times
Tuesday, October 2, 2001
Experts, diplomats probe developments in wake of terror attacks on US
By Francesca Sawalha
AMMAN — Regional and international developments in the wake of last month's terror attacks in the US took centre stage in discussions among experts and diplomats at a seminar on Monday dedicated to “Early Warning and Response in a Conflict Prevention Perspective: Applying Experiences to the Euro-Med Context.”The workshop, held at and organised by the Jordan Institute of Diplomacy (JID) in cooperation with Italy's International Affairs Institute, continues today with a morning roundtable on the role of academic networking in the development of early-warning tools and conflict-prevention mechanisms in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.
A closing session until noon will delve into the limits and opportunities for conflict prevention provided for by the 1995 Barcelona Process for political, security, economic, and socio-cultural partnership between the European Union and 17 Mediterranean countries, including Jordan.
“It is particularly urgent today that we assess common problems, challenges and threats according to common parameters,” Italian Ambassador Stefano Jedrkiewicz told attendees at yesterday's opening session.
“When I say we, I refer to all countries, to all states, to all organisations which are actually striving to protect the security of the human lives entrusted to them,” Jedrkiewicz continued.
“I believe that a common assessment and a common response are necessary and indeed possible, because we all share the same basic values which are the fundamentals of civilisation.”
Participants touched on the wave of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim sentiments awakened in Western public opinion after the Sept. 11 atrocities, all agreeing on the dangerous negative effects that racial and ethnic prejudice could have, not only on the security of some segments of civilian populations, but also on the very fight against terror and efforts to put together an international coalition to fight terror.
“Arabs and Muslims continue to suffer from three shocks,” said JID President Kamel Abu Jaber.
“One at the horrendous loss of life and property which they consider inhuman.
“Two, because there is ample evidence that those who carried out the attacks were Arabs and Muslims. [We are all engaged in] a process of soul-searching and continue to ask how young men, raised by Arab mothers in the love, warmth and gentility of the Arab family and the spiritual values of Islam, could commit such a deed.
“The third shock wave came when acts of both verbal and physical terror were conducted against Arabs and Muslims in their countries in the West,” Abu Jaber went on to say.
“This shock will continue to reverberate, no doubt, for a long time,” he added.
Chairing the conference's first session in her capacity as JID vice president, HRH Princess Wijdan Ali stressed how the finger was swiftly pointed against Arabs and Muslims as culprits of the terror attacks, long before any evidence could be collected.
Warning against any ignorant generalisation that could create further rifts amongst cultures, Princess Wijdan reminded participants that “some of the most civilised nations have committed atrocities, too.”
International Affairs Institute Deputy Director Ettore Greco presented a paper highlighting the dire need for a Euro-Mediterranean conflict prevention centre and mechanisms.
Preventing conflicts is much cheaper, in human, financial, political and economic terms, than having to deal with the settlement of a conflict after it has already broken out, Greco stressed.
European Commission Delegation Chief James Moran stated that “the world changed after Sept. 11.” While the need for international cooperation in all fields gained more urgency in the face of the destructive strength of international terrorism, the creation of the EU and the Euro-Mediterranean partnership process now stand out even more than ever as “ultimate peace projects,” Moran said.
The seminar's programme included papers by experts and diplomats from the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Tunisia, Egypt and Spain.
Jordanian participants included Abdullah Touqan, adviser to His Majesty King Abdullah, Marouf Bakhit, general coordinator of Jordan's peace process teams, Zina Haj Hassan, from the JID, and Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Mohammad Shyyab.