Global Forum Sees Potential for Democratic Change in Middle East

(Sen. Lugar joins European, Mideast leaders in panel discussion) (900)


By Berta Gomez


Washington File Staff Correspondent





Dead Sea, Jordan -- Most Arab countries would welcome greater


democracy and economic freedom, but want to generate reforms from


within their own societies and not have them imposed from without, say


global leaders gathered for a special annual meeting of the World


Economic Forum (WEF).





"Arab countries are eager for change, but want (to achieve it through)


their own people and institutions ... as well as support and


encouragement from the United States," U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, a


Republican from Indiana, said during one of several panel discussions


that opened the June 21-23 event on the Jordanian shores of the Dead


Sea.





Lugar, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was summing


up comments made by a range of leaders from the Middle East, Europe


and the United States on the political, security and humanitarian


issues facing the Middle East following the Iraq war. A recurring


theme, particularly among Arab representatives, was the need for


countries to find their own way as they move to open up their


political systems and integrate themselves more fully into the global


economy.





And while many expressed skepticism over U.S. goals for Iraq and the


Middle East roadmap, delegates generally agreed on the need for close


U.S. cooperation with the region. They also said that U.S. help and


guidance could be crucial to building a freer and more prosperous


Middle East.





Amre Moussa, secretary-general of the League of Arab States, said the


Arab world "cannot be comfortable" with an ongoing U.S. presence in


Iraq, but also expressed hope for a "serious dialogue" with the United


States on its future role in the region. As for the prospects for


democracy in the region, Moussa said, "We believe we have to change,


but this should be done by us. It cannot be imposed."





For his part, Lugar said he "could not agree more" with Moussa on the


need for a "very deep" Arab-U.S. dialogue on the future of the Middle


East and on U.S. goals for Iraq. The United States, he said, is


working to build an Iraq that is democratic, has a vibrant economy,


and is a friend to its neighbors. He acknowledged that the


reconstruction of post-war Iraq has been "slow," but said he believed


that Ambassador Paul Bremer, the U.S. civilian administrator in Iraq,


"is making headway." He rejected flatly the idea that the United


States would use its presence in Iraq as a platform for re-shaping the


entire region. "That is not a correct perception," Lugar stressed.





The United States is instead seeking to work constructively with Saudi


Arabia, Egypt and other close friends in the region on their


pro-democracy initiatives, as well as on global security, Lugar said.


"The war against terror involves all of us," he said. "It will not


succeed without the Arab League, and I also believe there is a very


important role for Europe and for the U.N."





Lugar also applauded President Bush's decision to play a "personal


role" in promoting his administration's "roadmap" for Middle East


peace. "Never underestimate the president when he's committed," the


senator said of Bush.





Other conference participants expressing confidence in Bush's


commitment to the peace process included Qatari Foreign Minister


Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jabr Al-Thani. "I believe, in the end,


that we have a serious president in the United States," he said during


discussion of the roadmap.





German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer noted that European leaders


had long urged the Bush administration to play a more active role in


ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "Now the U.S. is back in the


driver's seat, and we're very happy about that," Fischer said. "It's a


tremendous opportunity."





Martin Indyk, who served as U.S. ambassador to Israel during the


Clinton administration, praised Bush's policies and "bold vision" for


the region. "The United States has come in not only to change a


horrendous regime in Iraq ... but is also determined to make peace in


the Middle East," said Indyk, who is now policy director for the Saban


Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution.





Indyk said that Bush envisions a democratic, prosperous and peaceful


Middle East "and is prepared to move forward with that vision." He


also pointed to promising signs in the region, noting that countries


such as Bahrain, Morocco, Jordan and Qatar are all embarking on


pro-democracy initiatives. Indyk said he hoped that such moves would


inspire countries that continue to resist change.





Moussa, in his comments on the importance of local institutions in


promoting democracy, noted that the Middle East now has about 150,000


non-governmental organizations. "We have to change, and the process of


change has started," he said.





Striking a less positive note, some delegates worried that there is


not yet a "model" for Arab democracy and wondered if governments now


experimenting with reform would eventually back down. "Is it genuine


change?" asked a panelist.





Describing the situation in Qatar, Foreign Minister Al-Thani said that


democratic reform is incomplete but nevertheless dramatic --


particularly compared to the situation in his country 10 or 20 years


ago. "We have a base from which to start," he said.