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	Arab Democrats are denied the Democracy they Crave by Rami G. Khouri The Daily Star   Beirut. 20 Sept, 2005   Arab Democrats are denied the Democracy they Crave, by Rami G. Khouri.   For too long, self-interested and often hollow-headed politicians in the Arab countries, Israel and the United States (slightly less so in Europe) have ignored the sentiments and aspirations of the Arab majority. They have focused instead on the violent excesses of a small minority of estranged radicals and criminal terrorists who have hijacked the global debate on the Middle East.   Ultimately, neither charismatic killer demagogues like Saddam Hussein or Osama bin Laden, nor cosmic-grade cheerleaders for liberty''s apocalypse like U.S. President George W. Bush, will define the collective history of the people of the Middle East. Instead, the path to a stable, productive future for the region lies in understanding more carefully the sentiments of the middle class majorities that inevitably must define their own political cultures, ideologies and policies. Presumably, that is what democracy and majority rule are all about.   One of the truly historic recent developments in the Arab world in the past decade or so has been the ability to conduct public opinion polling in many countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen and a few others, providing crucial insights into what our populations feel, fear and desire.   A new public opinion poll released this week in Jordan confirms two significant points that most of the mediocre leaders in this region and abroad have preferred to ignore: ordinary Arabs (mostly Muslims) are strongly committed to democratic values and principles, but they are also deeply concerned and fearful about how they are treated in their own countries.   The nationwide random sample poll of adults by the independent Jordan Center for Social Research, conducted at the end of July, showed huge majorities in favor of electing local officials, keeping and expanding the quota for women in Parliament, keeping the one-person, one-vote system, ensuring equal work opportunities for men and women, and using peaceful political participation and protest (rather than violence) as the way of changing the government. Jordanians identified the most important problems facing their country as the rising cost of living, unemployment, corruption, worsening economic conditions and poverty, along with the widening gap between rich and poor.   The most striking result of this poll was the nearly schizophrenic attitude of ordinary Jordanians to political values and to their real life conditions. While they aspire to democratic practices and have a very strong sense of justice, they also feel mistreated and subjugated in their own society. Only 39 percent of respondents said they would be treated fairly and justly in a court of law, 12 percent in a university entrance exam, 9 percent in a police investigation, 6 percent in a job allocation and 1 percent in a tax office.   This is yet another confirmation that Arabs and Muslims love freedom, democracy, equality and justice, but are angry because they do not feel they are enjoying these values in their own societies. This helps to explain the sense of resentment that often translates into political extremism, or people turning to their religion for comfort and hope. In the most extreme consequence, enter Osama bin Laden and angry young men become suicide bombers. More routinely, citizens turn to peaceful Islamist groups to express their anger and indignity; the poll found that the most popular political group in Jordan was the Islamic Action Front, for whom 37 percent of citizens would vote, against 27 percent for Jordanian nationalist parties.   There is more that also confirms the contradictory sentiments that define ordinary Arabs, in this case Jordanians; but I am certain, from my own travels and extensive research and readings, that this situation pertains throughout all the Arab states. Citizens emphatically trust some national institutions: 93 percent trust the police and army "fully or to a large degree"; 84 percent trust religious leaders; 76 percent trust the government; 56 percent trust municipalities; but only 36 percent trust political parties. The media comes in at 63 percent.   What to conclude? Good Arabs and Muslims with fine, egalitarian, law-abiding values have found themselves living in societies that do not reflect those values in practice. This is also what I heard when I phoned the director of the survey, sociologist Musa Shteiwi, for his own interpretation of the results. He was quite categorical: "The people of Jordan seem very committed to democratic ideals, both at the value and procedural levels, but they are also a troubled people who are very concerned about the degree of fairness in their society."   They are also not sure about whether the country is heading in the right direction politically and economically, he said, noting that 48 percent of respondents think things are moving in the right direction; while 44 percent think they are moving in the wrong direction. He senses that many Jordanians are alienated from their civil and government institutions, such as political parties and Parliament, and are not sure that these institutions are working for their best interests. He also detects a gap between elite and popular sentiments on key political issues, also suggesting alienation.   Any takers for the simple idea that Arabs and Muslims love freedom and justice, but hate being denied it in their own societies?
	Globalization had left many in developing countries unable to compete by The United Nations News Service   20 September, 2005   Sixtieth General Assembly Plenary 13th & 14th Meetings (19.9.)   MOST DEVELOPING COUNTRIES UNABLE TO ACHIEVE MILLENNIUM GOALS, GIVEN CURRENT LEVELS OF ECONOMIC GROWTH, INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT, GENERAL ASSEMBLY TOLD.   Enhanced Resource Flows, Scientific Applications Needed to Break Out of Poverty, Leaders Say.   While acknowledging the outcome of last week’s historic World Summit, which had adopted major decisions on terrorism and United Nations reform, many political leaders from developing countries today told the General Assembly that the event had fallen short of their expectations, particularly on boosting development aid and tearing down trade barriers.   Though the three-day Summit had been billed as a five-year review of the Millennium Declaration, unfortunately, most developing countries would be unable to achieve the Goals and targets pledged by world leaders in 2000, given the current levels of their growth and levels of international support, Natwar Singh, India’s External Affairs Minister, said as the Assembly continued its annual high-level debate.   "Most of us had much higher expectations from the Summit, particularly in agreeing on definite timetables for the achievement of the 0.7 per cent target for official development assistance (ODA)", he said, adding that that was equally true of innovative sources of financing because developing countries could not break out of the circle of poverty without enhanced resource flows and the application of science and technology to meet their development challenges.   Calling for strengthening efforts at both national and international levels for reaching agreed development targets, Marc Ravalomanana, Madagascar’s President, was among many African leaders stressing that the Summit’s results had not fully addressed the troubled continent’s concerns. What was lacking was a clear vision for Africa’s future, one which took into account the continent’s weaknesses while, at the same time, underscoring its astounding potential and wealth of resources.   Leaders of the world’s richest nations had spoken of a “Marshall Plan” for Africa, and now was the time to act to help ensure the continent was prosperous, stable, hunger-free and much more attractive to foreign investors. Africa also aimed to take its destiny into its own hands by promoting good governance and the rule of law, and build better, more equitable and enduring institutions, he added.   Since the adoption of the Millennium Declaration, the burdens and obstacles faced by developing countries had only increased, said Syed Hamid Albar, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Malaysia. On top of that, the world now faced spiralling oil prices, which placed a disproportionate burden on developing countries. There was something wrong with the current market system, where the poor were expected to absorb the costs of the instabilities of production.   Globalization had left many in developing countries unable to compete in the open and free market system. While aid and debt reduction was important, trade needed to be expanded. If the United Nations was to remain relevant, it must be able to discuss and decide on day-to-day issues, as well as those which had long-term implication, he said.   Felipe Perez Roque, Cuba’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, declared there was not a single reason to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the United Nations. The chaotic, unequal and insecure state of the world was not exactly a tribute to the Organization’s founders. Among other tragedies since the Millennium Summit, more children had died of preventable disease than all the victims of the Second World War combined.   He said the reason for the currents state of world affairs was that the order enshrined in the United Nations Charter reflected an outdated balance of power. In a unipolar world, the only super-Power imposed its interests on the Organization and the international community. That situation would remain unchanged as long as Third World countries failed to work together to fight for their rights.   Peace and development retain focus as Assembly debate continues   20 September 2005 – The General Assembly heard ministers of governments around the world call for more urgent action on reforming the United Nations to help it better maintain peace and security, along with meeting development goals, as the 60th anniversary General Debate of that body continued on its fourth day.   "Promoting peace is the United Nations' raison d'etre," said Ursula Plassnik, Austria's Foreign Minister in supporting multilateralism, the rule of international law, and the peace-building commission proposed Secretary-General Kofi Annan and endorsed by leaders at last week's World Summit.   In Africa, regional and international cooperation was necessary in both peace-building, peacekeeping and development assistance, to rid the continent of its many conflicts, according to Morocco's Foreign Minister Mohamed Benaissa.   "The UN Charter governs not only relationship between nations, but also the relations of Governments to their people," Foreign Minister David Oddsson of Iceland said, urging reform of UN human rights machinery.   Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, said: "We should all be both speakers of words and doers of deeds," in accomplishing reforms to meet development targets and better protect people. She added that dialogue was crucial to resolving the conflicts in her region.   Terrorism must be dealt through cooperative efforts and not through conflict, and also by reducing the gaps between rich and poor, said Mohamed Vall Ould Bellal, Foreign Minister of Mauritania.   Holding the chairmanship of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, Denmark supported outreach to those States that are having difficulties in participating in the struggle against the scourge, said its Foreign Minister, Per Stig Moeller, who also affirmed the importance of arms control in the situation.   The Foreign Minister of the Central African Republic, Jean-Paul Ngoupande, said in order to deal better with such challenges, the Security Council needed to undergo reform to better represent his continent and other regions because international solidarity was essential for his own country's return to peace and security.   Supporting the peace-building commission, San Marino's Foreign Minister, Fabio Berardi, said that small countries, too, needed to be represented on the Security Council.   Peace and stability were particularly important in Iraq and the Middle East, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Comoros Aboudou Soefo said, but efforts at peace could not be undertaken without efforts to address disease pandemics, debt, famine, and poverty. He noted the striking socioeconomic inequalities between the North and the South and said the developing world would suffer the effects of marginalization and the digital divide for years to come.   The World Summit had achieved several important goals, such as the creation of a Peacebuilding Commission, but the Government of the Netherlands was disappointed by the failure to address the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, one of the greatest threats to mankind, Netherlands Foreign Minister Bernard Rudolf Bot said.   Turning to questions of tolerance, Mr. Bot said the best way to protect tolerance was by treasuring one's identity, while simultaneously daring to re-assess the prevailing norms and standards and constantly reminding oneself that it would be wrong to hold an entire community responsible for the deeds of individuals.   Guinean Minister of Foreign Affairs Foumata Kaba-Sidibé welcomed the decision of the Group of Eight rich countries to increase development aid and alleviate the debt of some highly indebted poor countries in Africa and she called on the international community to exert the political will to eradicate the scourge of terrorism.   Lithuania called for rapid progress in making the proposed Peace-Building Commission fully operational and said Security Council reform should not be postponed any longer. Foreign Secretary Oskaras Jusys said the Council's working methods should be improved and it membership expanded through equitable geographical representation and by taking note of major new actors and contributors on the international scene.   Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Laurie Chan said the upcoming Doha trade process in December must provide stable and predictable market access for least developed countries, particularly since her country had a debt level of 100 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP), while the per capita income had dropped more than 20 per cent below the country's GDP 10 years ago.   The State Secretary in the Foreign Office of Germany, Klaus Scharioth, said the composition of the UN Security Council reflected the world of 1945, not 2005 and the Council risked losing its legitimacy if entire continents were not adequately represented.   The proposal submitted by Brazil Germany, India and Japan to add permanent and non-permanent members to the Council was the only one that included a comprehensive proposal for reforming the Council and its working methods and was the only one capable of obtaining the necessary two-thirds majority in the General Assembly, he said.   Georgia needed a mechanism through which the international community would effectively support initiatives and policies directed towards the peaceful resolution of conflicts, Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili said. Georgia was experiencing "frozen conflicts" on its soil, conflicts which have led to the freezing of both economic and democratic development and producing, therefore, trafficking, criminal activities and possible terrorist activities.   Timor Leste, one of the UN's youngest countries, has made real progress in nation-building, peace-consolidation, economic development, national reconciliation, and enhanced relations with its neighbours, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation José Ramos-Horta said. Malaria and tuberculosis were widespread, however, he said, and food insecurity continued to be a problem.   Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi pointed out that "peace does not prevail automatically when a conflict ends" and endorsed the establishment of a Peacebuilding Commission. The new body "must show initiative in ensuring a smooth transition from ceasefire to nation-building, and to reconciliation, justice and reconstruction," he said, adding that Japan is ready to play its part in this undertaking.   Prime Minister Halldór Ásgrimsson of Iceland welcomed the decision to establish a Peacebuilding Commission, saying it "will provide another tool which will help to create a better future for individuals and nations." If given the necessary institutional weight, the new Commission "could achieve much in establishing lasting peace following conflict."   President Samuel Schmid of Switzerland welcomed the proposed creation of the Peacebuilding Commission and said it "should be a new instrument to promote collective security, ensuring the connection between the security of citizens, the re-establishment of the rule of law, humanitarian work, and development." He further stressed that its composition must be representative of "UN members' actual contributions in those contexts."   King Mswati Iii of Swaziland said the Summit offers the UN a chance to "recast at the image of our organization and regain the confidence of the public." He stressed that the meeting's results must be translated into "positive and meaningful action if we are to make headway in achieving development, freedom and peace."   Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia said the world is in dire need of an effective UN able to promote development, peace and respect for human rights. Stressing the need to combat terrorism worldwide, he said. Saudi Arabia would this year introduce to the General Assembly a draft resolution on reviewing recommendations for creating an international counter-terrorism centre.   Albania's President, Alfred Moisiu, voiced appreciation for the UN's work in promoting democracy while stressing the need for more focused international efforts in this field.   He also hailed the creation of the UN Democracy Fund as an "effective and supportive tool for the young and restoring democracies as well as for assisting the civil society and democratic institutions."   Arnold Rüütel, the President of Estonia, supported the establishment of a Democracy Fund, and called for special protection for the rights of women, children and indigenous peoples. "The efficient performance of the UN is crucial for peace, stability and development," he said, stressing that to meet new threats and challenges, it is imperative to strengthen and improve the UN.   Ivo Miro Jovic, President of the Presidency Bosnia And Herzegovina, said his country agreed on the need for a more representative Security Council, but stressed that "it would be a pity and the whole reform process will lose its momentum if we exhaust ourselves deliberating pros and cons" of various models for reform. The bottom line, he emphasized, "is that we need a stronger, more efficient, better financed, more agile, more alert Organization to address the threats to the international peace and security of the twenty-first century." Visit the related web page
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