Jordan Times
Sunday, December 3, 2006
'Reform efforts should
be coupled with resolution of long-standing conflicts’
Participants reiterate importance of enhancing homegrown reform
By Alia Shukri Hamzeh
DEAD SEA — Foreign ministers representing the G-8 and countries of the Broader
Middle East and North Africa reaffirmed Friday that promoting reform in the
region should go hand-in-hand with efforts to resolve crises in the region,
especially the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
In a statement issued at the end of a two-day gathering entitled “Forum for the
Future,” participants reiterated the importance of enhancing home-grown reform,
and agreed that while national governments have primary responsibility to push
forward with their reform agendas, the effort must be supported politically and
economically by the international community.
“The pace and content of reform in any particular country or region would be
greatly enhanced with the resolution of long-standing conflicts in the region,”
the statement said.
In remarks to representatives of 56 countries and organisations attending the
third annual forum after Morocco and Bahrain, Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit
warned that prolonging a solution to regional crises threatens the pace of
reforms.
“Our region is burdened with tensions and several crises,” he said, adding that
the absence of rapid and just solutions weakens all efforts at reform. He urged
leaders attending the forum — initiated after the US launched its controversial
Broader Middle East and North Africa initiative at a G-8 summit in 2004 — to
help find a just solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. “Justly solving
the Palestinian issue would take away the breeding ground from under the
extremist control,” Bakhit said.
Participants at the forum included US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice,
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, British Foreign Secretary Margaret
Beckett, and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana. Arab foreign ministers were
also present.
Foreign ministry officials said a planned Quartet meeting was postponed, but no
new date was given.
Speaking to delegates, Lavrov — who co-chaired the forum with his Jordanian
counterpart Abdul Ilah Khatib — focused on the need to address the Arab-Israeli
conflict as key to improving regional stability.
“Unless we resolve this complex cluster of regional problems and find a
comprehensive solution to the key issues of security, all innovative ideas risk
to remain essentially deformed,” he said.
Lavrov also said Russia was ready to back sanctions against Iran designed to
prevent it from enhancing its nuclear capacity, Interfax news agency said
Friday.
“We are not against sanctioning Iran,” Lavrov told a news conference. “We have
to concentrate in the UN Security Council on prohibiting supply to Iran of
technologies, materials and services related to the areas of concern.”
Western-countries, led by the US, suspect Iran of trying to make a nuclear bomb
and have pushed for UN sanctions against the country. Russia has resisted these
efforts and Iran insists its nuclear ambitions are limited to peaceful energy
projects.
“Russia is against punishing Iran,” Lavrov was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, forum attendants welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached recently
between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, calling on both sides to further
demonstrate their commitment to peace.
They also reiterated commitment to the principles of the Roadmap and the goal of
a two-state solution.
On Iraq, the participants expressed their deepest concern about the increasingly
alarming situation in the country and reiterated their firm commitment to the
independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the war-ravaged
country.
They also voiced strong support for the Iraqi government in its efforts to
restore security and solidify national reconciliation and dialogue, calling for
an inclusive political process that ensures the participation of all Iraqis
irrespective of their ethnicity, religion or ideology.
The final statement also referred to Lebanon and the escalating crisis there,
expressing full commitment to supporting all efforts that would contribute to
enhancing it security and stability by advocating national dialogue and
consensus.
Rice, who held talks with foreign ministers of Egypt, Jordan and the Gulf
Cooperation Council, called on delegates to push ahead with reforms.
“Of course, we realise that many of you have strong and passionate opinions
about US policy with regards to Iraq, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories…
At the same time we all agree on the importance of reform and the need to move
forward actively with a robust reform agenda,” she added.
She also called for concrete ways to support Iraq’s government and warned of
dire consequences for the region if all efforts on Iraq failed.
Rice’s trip to Jordan and the region comes as part of a US diplomatic push to
boost its role in the region and regain credibility with Arab countries,
especially with regard to the situation in Iraq. It is also meant to help
restart Israeli-Palestinian peace talks following the ceasefire agreement.
In a meeting with local dailies on the sidelines of the forum, US Assistant
Secretary of State for Near East Affairs David Welsh said the US was hoping to
see some progress on the Palestinian-Israeli track. He said recent remarks by
Israeli leader Ehud Olmert — where he called on Palestinians to discuss a final
peace deal that would include Israeli territorial concessions in the West Bank —
suggest a new approach on how to deal with the Palestinian issue.
“The roadmap is there, other ideas are out there. Olmert had positive remarks
about the Arab initiative and we should see how we can take advantage of the
moment to consolidate the ceasefire and expand it,” he said.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the conference, Solana also welcomed
the ceasefire, saying it was a positive step that should be built upon and could
bring both sides to the negotiating table. He expressed dismay at the failure of
talks between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas on a unity
government and reiterated the EU’s commitment to peace.
Referring to Iraq, Welsh said the US was committed to do everything it can,
adding that a solution would have to “be political and not just military.” He
noted willingness by GCC ministers during their meeting with Rice to work for
solutions within Iraq.
He also expressed satisfaction with the progress in dialogue on reforms saying:
“The issue of change and reform was sensitive and complex, but today it is a
mature conversation, with different ideas coming from different people. So the
debate is open.”
This year’s forum, held on the shores of the Dead Sea, focused on political
freedom and good governance, women and youth empowerment, as well as economic
and educational empowerment in the broader Middle East.
Nongovernmental organisations and civil society groups were also present and
took part in discussions on political participation, elections, media and
transparency.