ID :
25523
Mon, 10/20/2008 - 09:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/25523
The shortlink copeid
MIDEAST NEEDS TO REFORM FOR A BETTER FUTURE, SAYS UAE'S FM
By Muin Abdul Majid
DUBAI, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- Saddled with various challenges and issues,
reform in the Middle East is a national demand and represents a necessity for the present and the future, said United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan Sunday.
He said pressing issues, such as lack of development, poverty, illiteracy,
extremism, unemployment, should be tackled if the region was to have a
prosperous and peaceful future.
"The extent and means of reforms differ from one country to another,
according to each country's past and current environment, capabilities and
culture," he pointed out when addressing the 2008 Forum for the Future in Abu
Dhabi.
The text of his speech was made available to the media Sunday.
Sheikh Abdullah also touched on the prevailing regional frustration
resulting from the delay in the Middle East peace process.
According to him, threats on the ground created a strong case for making
the
Middle East a region free of weapons of mass destruction.
"Any situation to the contrary would open the door for continuous
conflicts
and threaten regional and international peace and security, in addition to
wasting capabilities, intensifying disorder and hindering development," said the
foreign minister.
Sheikh Abdullah said joint intensive and continued efforts were needed to
surmount regional and international upheavals wisely, rationally and with
political foresight and will.
He said the forum differed from the other sessions held so far because of
the addition of a number of new issues of concern to everyone -- particularly
those related to sustainable development, human and scientific exploitation, as
well as global economic and financial crises.
"All these concerns are serious enough to threaten the prosperity of the
human race and require cooperation among governments, private sector and civil
society in order to be addressed," he added.
The forum aims to promote regional and international peace and security,
and
is being attended by foreign ministers, state ministers and senior officials
from nearly 40 countries.
-- BERNAMA
DUBAI, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- Saddled with various challenges and issues,
reform in the Middle East is a national demand and represents a necessity for the present and the future, said United Arab Emirates' (UAE) Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan Sunday.
He said pressing issues, such as lack of development, poverty, illiteracy,
extremism, unemployment, should be tackled if the region was to have a
prosperous and peaceful future.
"The extent and means of reforms differ from one country to another,
according to each country's past and current environment, capabilities and
culture," he pointed out when addressing the 2008 Forum for the Future in Abu
Dhabi.
The text of his speech was made available to the media Sunday.
Sheikh Abdullah also touched on the prevailing regional frustration
resulting from the delay in the Middle East peace process.
According to him, threats on the ground created a strong case for making
the
Middle East a region free of weapons of mass destruction.
"Any situation to the contrary would open the door for continuous
conflicts
and threaten regional and international peace and security, in addition to
wasting capabilities, intensifying disorder and hindering development," said the
foreign minister.
Sheikh Abdullah said joint intensive and continued efforts were needed to
surmount regional and international upheavals wisely, rationally and with
political foresight and will.
He said the forum differed from the other sessions held so far because of
the addition of a number of new issues of concern to everyone -- particularly
those related to sustainable development, human and scientific exploitation, as
well as global economic and financial crises.
"All these concerns are serious enough to threaten the prosperity of the
human race and require cooperation among governments, private sector and civil
society in order to be addressed," he added.
The forum aims to promote regional and international peace and security,
and
is being attended by foreign ministers, state ministers and senior officials
from nearly 40 countries.
-- BERNAMA
