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HomeDOCUMENTSMediterranean and Middle East Special Group20049-10 JULY 2004 - NAPLES SEMINAR [MEDITERRANEAN SPECIAL GROUP]
9-10 JULY 2004 - NAPLES SEMINAR [MEDITERRANEAN SPECIAL GROUP]
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TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION II. FIRST SESSION: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST III. SECOND SESSION: NATO'S MEDITERRANEAN POLICY AFTER THE ISTANBUL SUMMIT IV. THIRD SESSION: PROMOTING DEMOCRACY: LESSONS LEARNED AND FUTURE CHALLENGES V. FOURTH SESSION: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND NEW PERSPECTIVES IN THE ARAB-MUSLIM WORLD I. INTRODUCTION 1. The second Special Mediterranean Group (GSM) "Naples Seminar" took place on 9th and 10th July 2004. Approximately 35 members of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly took part. It is worth noting that this was the first time nearly all Parliamentary Observers were represented at a GSM seminar in Naples, including delegates from Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia. 2. The programme for this seminar was centred around four working sessions: * First session: Recent Developments in the Middle East * Second Session: NATO's Mediterranean Policy after the Istanbul Summit * Third Session: Promoting Democracy: Lessons Learned and Future Challenges * Fourth Session: Recent Developments and New Perspectives in the Arabo-Muslim world 3. The meeting started with brief introductions by Jean Michel Boucheron (FR), the Chairman of the GSM, Giovanni Lorenzo Forcieri (IT), the Head of the Italian Delegation, and Rosa Russo Iervolino, the Mayor of Naples. 4. Ambassador Ricardo Sessa, the Director of the Italian MFA Department for Mediterranean and Middle East Affairs, informed the Assembly of his country's interest, strategy and political orientation in the Mediterranean and Arabo-Muslim world. II. FIRST SESSION: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST 5. Professor Nazmi Al-Jubeh opened the first session of the seminar with the recent developments in the Middle East. He stated that, from his point of view, there was no better possible agreement than the Geneva Accords and this document settles the basis for an acceptable peace agreement in particular with regards to the definition of borders. The major problem for the Palestinian side remains to be the ongoing and active policy of colonisation supported by the Israeli government. Since the negotiation process started, the total colonised area has simply doubled in size, which is obviously not a sign of good will from the Israeli side. He added that both sides of the conflict needed courageous and willing politicians and decision-makers to implement the roadmap to achieve progress in the negotiation process. He also underlined that the construction of the wall by the Israeli side has seriously undermined the trust here, and hopes that a peace agreement can be reached in the current context. He added that it was absolutely unthinkable that in the 21st century when the fall of the Berlin wall saw an end to the partition in Europe and the Apartheid regime has been abolished, Israelis were now building the so-called 'fence'. This new wall will not only separate Israelis from Palestinians, but also separate Palestinian families and Palestinians from their land. Finally, he declared that his people has high expectations from the decision on the legality of this wall due from the International Court in The Hague in the next few days. 6. Amos Radian, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Israeli Embassy in Rome, and Danny Yatom, a member of the Knesset, presented the Israeli views on the issue. They both underlined that it was a fact that the number of Israelis who had been a victim of Palestinian terrorism had indeed seriously decreased since the wall had appeared in certain regions. Therefore, conclusions had to be drawn from the reality. One of the priorities of the Israeli government is to be able to ensure the security of its citizens. Israel is fighting 'Palestinian terror'. As long as this terror is tolerated or supported by certain political Palestinian leaders, Israel will take all the necessary measures to protect its population, including the construction of a security fence. They also stressed a major difficulty in the fact that Israeli negotiators do not have reliable Palestinian interlocutors, who could represent the interest of the Palestinian nation and guarantee that the terms and conditions of an agreement would be respected by the Palestinian side. Nevertheless the 'disengagement plan' will be implemented by 2005 and the Israeli side is committed to resume negotiations and destroy the fence in the future, provided the security of the Israeli citizens can be fully guaranteed. III. SECOND SESSION: NATO'S MEDITERRANEAN POLICY AFTER THE ISTANBUL SUMMIT 7. Ambassador Gunther Altenburg, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Division, presented the conclusions of the recent NATO Summit in Istanbul with regard to NATO's Mediterranean policy. Established a decade ago the NATO Mediterranean Dialogue received a new impetus at the recent summit and it was decided to strengthen the ties with the seven Mediterranean Dialogue partners by substantially enhancing co-operation. At the same time a new co-operative venture is to be initiated with countries from the Broader Middle East - through the Istanbul Co-operation Initiative. In a spirit of joint ownership, the Initiative aims to develop new ties with these regions, to help them face the challenges of modernisation, and to build greater confidence between these states and NATO. Several members of the Gulf Co-operation Council have already expressed an interest in working together with NATO. Concrete modalities of these new policies will be worked out in the months to come, and a task force will be established for this reason to implement these initiatives. The basic principles of this new co-operation are the following: to focus on practical co-operation, to promote joint ownership of this co-operation, and to enhance complementarities and partnerships with other international fora dealing with same questions. 8. Admiral Gregory G. Johnson, Commander Joint Force Command Naples (JFC Naples), made a presentation on the new challenges facing NATO today, and focused in particular on the redefinition of its policy and co-operation with the partner countries from the Mediterranean Dialogue. A profound shift in the strategic focus of the Alliance toward the Southern Region had occurred. NATO today faces a new variety of security risks, many of which originate from the South and East of Europe, such as proliferation, failing states, transnational crimes and terrorism, but also limited access to drinking water, and the legacy of the Cold War. The NATO Alliance provides a stabilising influence to help keep the risks at a distance. In this context, NATO allies decided at Istanbul to expand the ISAF operation and support the election process in Afghanistan, to assist the Iraqi government with training its security forces, to conclude the SFOR operations and welcome the UN mandated mission for the EU in Bosnia, to confirm a robust KFOR presence in Kosovo, to enhance the Operation Active Endeavour - NATO's contribution to the fight against international terrorism in the Mediterranean zone. In addition to this, NATO will also strengthen Partnership programmes by focusing on the strategic Caucasus and Central Asia Region, as well as enhancing the Mediterranean Dialogue Programme and extending co-operation to the Broader Middle East. IV. THIRD SESSION: PROMOTING DEMOCRACY: LESSONS LEARNED AND FUTURE CHALLENGES 9. Dr Roberto Aliboni, the Vice-President and eadHeadHHead of Middle East and Mediterranean Programme Istituto Affari Internazionali in Rome, analysed in his presentation the major issues that - in his opinion - hamper the development of the relationship between Western European organisations and the Arab-Muslim world. First of all, the Arabo-Muslim world fears the reform process implied and suggested by any kind of co-operation with the Western world and in particular with Europe. Secondly, the promotion of human rights, essential in the eyes of the Western world for the development of co-operation and dialogue, is not always a policy priority in the Arab-Muslim world. In fact the concept of security differs totally in this part of the world, as reform and the modernisation of the states, as well as democratisation are still seen - in most of the cases - as a threat to stability and internal security. On the other hand the West lacks understanding of the Southern and Oriental history and culture as well as the religious component and role in the Arab-Muslim tradition. It does not realise that fundamentalism is the response to the problems caused by the reforms and the modernisation of Arab states. He underlines that since the 60s the West failed to support the real democrats in these countries and that has indirectly contributed to the discredit of the West and to the ultimate use of violence as one of the means of political expression. Finally, he recalls that there is a crucial need to politically support this difficult transition taking place in the Arab-Muslim world and it is necessary to give time to these young countries to establish and consolidate democratic systems. 10. Professor Fares Braizat, Politics and Government Researcher at the CSS (Centre for Strategic Studies and Research), University of Jordan, analysed the experience in Jordan in promoting democratic reforms. He stressed that the evolution of mentalities and creation of democratic institutions are taking place in certain countries of the region, but that 'reformers' have the delicate task of convincing the local population of the need for change and the validity of the democratic choice. He added that with this in mind, it was absolutely necessary to make sure that the West was not being seen as having double political standards and as being a biased partner in the regional conflicts. V. FOURTH SESSION: RECENT DEVELOPMENTS AND NEW PERSPECTIVES IN THE ARAB-MUSLIM WORLD 11. Amal Obeidi, Professor of the Political Science Department, Faculty of Economic and Political Science, University of Garyounis (Benghazi, Libya), briefly presented the nature of the political system in Libya and its recent political evolution. Reviewing the state building process since the creation of the Jamahiriya by Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-Qadhafi in 1969, she analysed the major impediment that the country is facing today. In particular, she mentioned the absence of rule of law, growing corruption, the rise in criminality, poverty and the delicate question of the preparation of the succession of the incumbent leader, Muammar al-QadhafI. 12. Agostino Cilardo, Professor of History of Islamic Countries at Naples 'Oriental' University, participated in the debate and presented an overview of the conception of human rights in the Arabo-Muslim world. He recalled that the Koran and the doctrine of Islam provide the framework for Arabo-Muslim societies to organise themselves. Institutions, rights and duties, the legal system and relations between human beings are ruled by the principles of the Koran. He stressed that this comprehensive system promotes the collective and not individual welfare and is based on a philosophy where individual rights often have to be sacrificed for the sake of the community. He also notes that certain conceptions such as secularism are often misunderstood in this part of the world, but also can be in opposition with the social system promoted by the religion. Nevertheless, the 'Universal Declaration of Human Rights in Islam (1981)', the 'Declaration on Human Rights in Islam' of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (1990) and the '1994 Declaration on Human Rights' of the Arab League indicate that there is a theoretical, philosophical and religious debate in the Arabo-Muslim world on the issue of the compatibility of the human rights' concept as enshrined in the 1948 Declaration and the respect of the religious principles and traditional culture. |
