30 November 2004
United States to Play Supporting Role in Forum for the Future
Forum supports economic, political, social reforms in Mideast, North Africa
Washington -- The United States looks forward to playing a supporting role in the inaugural meeting of the Forum for the Future in Rabat, Morocco, according to Under Secretary of State Alan Larson.
"The only objective that we have is to support initiatives from within the region, to promote more opportunity, to encourage reform and to take steps that will help create a better future for the people that live in the Middle East," Larson told reporters during a November 29 videoconference.
Both Larson and Moroccan Ambassador Yusuf Amrani pointed to the declaration that emerged from the Arab League Summit in Tunisia in May as evidence that the countries of the region are committed to pursuing political, economic and social reforms.
The Group of Eight countries -- Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Russia -- called for the establishment of the Forum for the Future during their Sea Island Summit in June in order to provide support for the countries of the broader Middle East and North Africa in their reform efforts. Morocco volunteered to sponsor the first gathering of the forum in Rabat on December 11.
The forum will provide an opportunity for government officials, business leaders and civil society representatives from the region and the G8 countries to discuss initiatives aimed at improving the economic climate, the political systems, the judicial institutions and the educational opportunities for people in the region.
As Amrani explained, "The Forum is a space of dialogue for an exchange of ideas, an exchange of experiences. It's not an international organization to implement resolutions and so on .... It is open and nothing is imposed."
The Moroccan ambassador said that several of the member countries are preparing initiatives to discuss at the meeting in Rabat.
These include a literacy initiative prepared by Algeria and Afghanistan, an investment task force prepared by Jordan, a financial network program prepared by Bahrain, a democracy assistance dialogue prepared by Turkey and Yemen, a microfinance initiative prepared by Jordan and Yemen and an entrepreneurship training program prepared by Morocco and Bahrain.
Amrani said that the various initiatives demonstrate that the countries of the region are not only committed to the idea of reform but are anxious to bring constructive ideas to the table.
In addition to the ministerial meetings, where these various initiatives will be discussed, the forum includes roundtables for business leaders and civil society groups. Both Larson and Amrani underscored the importance of participation from all sectors of the business community and civil society to ensure that the reform programs undertaken are appropriate and effective.
"We need imaginative solutions to our problems," Amrani said, adding that broad participation could help generate useful proposals.
Larson added that the business roundtable would include representatives from both small and large businesses. He said that the civil society roundtable includes nongovernmental organizations dealing with democracy, human rights, press freedom and governance.
The under secretary noted that many of the countries in the region are already engaged in reform projects in partnership with G8 countries. He said that the forum would provide the countries with a framework to study their various experiences and discuss the types of initiatives that might be effective in their own particular situations.
Larson said that the forum could have a positive impact on the entire region. "We think that where there is greater opportunity and greater freedom, that there is also going to be greater hope, and that that will create benefits for cooperation including trade. It will also reduce the risk and the appeal of doctrines that are based on hopelessness and despair, and those doctrines include the doctrine of terrorism."
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
