Europe and the Arab World Connecting Partners in Dialogue 17–19 December 2008, Vienna Hofburg Palace
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Europe and the Arab World Connecting Partners in Dialogue 17–19 December 2008, Vienna Hofburg Palace Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs Imprint Copyright © Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria, 2009 Europe and the Arab World All rights reserved. Content and Editor: Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of the Connecting Partners in Dialogue Republic of Austria, Mag. Sabine Kroissenbrunner Project Coordination/Text Editor: Mag. Julia Kospach 17–19 December 2008, Vienna Hofburg Palace Design: Thomas Kussin/buero8 Photo-Credits: Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Hopi Media Print: Grasl Druck & Neue Medien, 2540 Bad Vöslau Printed in Austria 5 >>> Preface www.bmeia.gv.at >>> 6 Preface Efforts for a structured dialogue The Vienna meeting was the first one of the Arab countries” has become a pillar of can be implemented by concrete political steps between Europe and the Arab between Europe and the Arab League which Arab Middle East policies. Its value has been of the parties concerned. The dialogue between World date back to the 1970s. The brought together representatives from both repeatedly acknowledged by the Middle East the Palestinian factions is as necessary as the Barcelona Process and the Union governments and civil society and addressed Quartet, the European Union, and the UN dialogue between Israel and Palestine and for the Mediterranean have revived specific thematic issues. The recommendations Security Council in its Resolution 1860. among all countries of the Middle East. ............................... the process of defining common issued by the three workshops illustrate the Austria as a member of the UN Security Serious political negotiations, political Michael interests and areas of cooperation. common challenges we face in both regions. Council in 2009-2010 was particularly engaged will and effective implementation of all sides’ Spindelegger, The EU-Arab League Meeting At the same time, they draw a picture of in achieving agreement on that resolution. commitments and international obligations are Minister for European in Malta in February 2008 has the tasks that lie ahead of us. Austria, together Notwithstanding all peace efforts, we have the only way forward to lasting peace, stability and International institutionalised dialogue between with partners, will work to follow up on these seen the situation escalating once more and development in the region. Affairs of the European and Arab states, recommendations. recently, witnessing war, destruction and Our common task is to redraw and shape a Republic of Austria including those in the Gulf and We see our efforts for dialogue also as suffering. The ceasefire of January 2009, new geography of the mind which will make ............................... on the African continent. a contribution to a fair and lasting peaceful followed by various initiatives on the European our regions become one area of common Austria, together with the League of Arab solution in the Middle East. The Arab Peace and Arab side to calm the situation, and the interest and shared perspectives for reform States, initiated the Vienna meeting “Europe Initiative adopted in 2002 in Beirut and International Conference in Support of the and cooperation. and the Arab World – Connecting Partners reconfirmed at various occasions is a prime Palestinian Economy for the Reconstruction of Austria will continue to offer her services as in Dialogue” to foster relations, give impetus example of how the Arab League can provide Gaza held in Sharm El Sheikh on 2 March have a platform for dialogue and peace. to existing cooperation and develop ideas an essential input by speaking with one voice. provided room for new hope. However, peace, for new initiatives improving understanding Its focus on the “just and comprehensive stability and prosperity in the Middle East can and exchange. peace in the Middle East as the strategic option only be realised if all these valuable initiatives www.bmeia.gv.at >>> 8 List of Contents 4 Preface by H.E. Michael Spindelegger 8 Conference Programme 12 Summary by the Co-Chairmen 16 Statements of the Participants at the Opening Panel and Ministerial Meeting 52 Workshop 1 Strengthening Women in Society, Public Life and Dialogue 56 Workshop 2 Development of Civil Society, Pluralism and Diversity Management 60 Workshop 3 Promoting Intercultural Dialogue and Youth Participation in Politics and Civil Society ......................................... ............................................................................................. Ministerial Round Table >>> Conference texts in Arabic and English: www.bmeia.gv.at ......................................... ............................................................................................. 9 >>> Programme www.bmeia.gv.at >>> 10 Programme Thursday, 18 December 2008 Wednesday, 17 December 2008 09:30 Workshops continued 13:00 Informal lunch 12:00 Opening Panel 14:30 Workshops continued H.E. MICHAEL SPINDELEGGER Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Austria 16:30 Joint Concluding Session of all three Workshops H.E. AMRE MOUSSA Secretary General of the League of Arab States 18:00 Reception for Workshop Participants and Delegations MRS. YOUSRIYA LOZA SAWIRIS Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, Egypt MR. GILLES KEPEL Institute of Political Studies, France H.R.H. PRINCE TURKI AL FAISAL Friday, 19 December 2008 King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, Saudi Arabia 09:30 Ministerial Round Table 13:00 Lunch for Workshop Participants hosted by H.E. Michael Spindelegger “Europe and the Arab World – Connecting Partners in Dialogue” Discussion by Ministers from the European Union, Turkey and the 14:30 Workshops League of Arab States and Guest speakers Three parallel workshops on expert level Chair: H.E. MICHAEL SPINDELEGGER WORKSHOP 1 Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Austria Strengthening Women in Society, Public Life and Dialogue Co-Chair: H.E. AMRE MOUSSA WORKSHOP 2 Secretary General of the League of Arab States Development of Civil Society, Pluralism and Diversity Management WORKSHOP 3 13:00 Press Conference Promoting Inter-Cultural Dialogue and Youth Participation in Politics and Society 13:30 Working Lunch for Round Table Participants 19:00 Informal dinner for Workshop Participants and Delegations hosted by H.E. MICHAEL SPINDELEGGER List of Participants: Representatives of States, League of Arab States and European Commission AUSTRIA H.E. Michael Spindelegger, Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Co-Chair . LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES H.E. Amre Moussa, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Co-Chair . ALGERIA H.E. Souad Bendjaballah, Minister Delegate for Scientific Research . BAHRAIN H.E. Karim Al-Shakar, Ambassador at Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs . BELGIUM H.E. Cristina Funes-Noppen, Ambassador of Belgium in Vienna . BULGARIA H.E. Rodion Popov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs . CYPRUS H.E. Markos Kyprianou, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus . CZECH REPUBLIC H.E. Karel Schwarzenberg, Minister of Foreign Affairs . DENMARK H.E. Arnold de Fine Skibsted, Human Rights Ambassador, Ministry for Foreign Affairs . EGYPT H.E. Farouk Hosni, Minister of Culture . ESTONIA H.E. Urmas Paet, Minister of Foreign Affairs . FINLAND H.E. Teemu Arto Juhani Tanner, Director General for Africa and the Middle East, Ministry of Foreign Affairs . FRANCE H.E. Denis Simonneau, Chief of Cabinet of the Minister of State for European Affairs . GERMANY H.E. Heidrun Tempel, Ambassador, Special Representative for Dialogue among Civilisations, Federal Foreign Office . GREECE H.E. Kelly Bourdara, Special Adviser to the Foreign Minister on Women Empowerment Affairs . HUNGARY H.E. Kinga Göncz, Minister of Foreign Affairs . IRAQ H.E. Wijdan Salim, Minister of Human Rights . ITALY Daniele Perico, Chargé d’Affairs, Italian Embassy in Vienna . JORDAN H.E. Salah Bashir, Minister of Foreign Affairs . KUWAIT H.E. Fawzi Abdulaziz Al-Jasem, Ambassador of Kuwait in Vienna . LATVIA H.E. Eriks Zunda, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs . LEBANON H.E. Ishaya El-Khoury, Ambassador of Lebanon in Vienna . LIBYA H.E. Omar Gadallah Aloukali, Director for Arab Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs . LITHUANIA H.E. Giedrius Puodziunas, Ambassador of Lithuania in Vienna . LUXEMBOURG H.E. Nicolas Schmit, Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs . MALTA H.E. Tonio Borg, Minister of Foreign Affairs . MOROCCO H.E. Taieb Fassi Fihri, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation . NETHERLANDS H.E. Henriette van Lynden, Director for the Middle East, Ministry of Foreign Affairs . OMAN H.E. Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs . PALESTINE H.E. Riyad Al-Malki, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Information . POLAND H.E. Witold Sobków, Political Director, Ministry of Foreign Affairs . PORTUGAL H.E. Maria Teresa Goncalves Ribeiro, Secretary of State for European Affairs . QATAR H.E. Khaled Bin Mohammad Al-Atiya, State Minister for International Cooperation . ROMANIA H.E. Laza˘r Coma˘nescu, Minister of Foreign Affairs . SAUDI ARABIA H.E. Nizar Obeid Madani, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs . SLOVAKIA H.E. Diana Sˇtrofová, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs . SLOVENIA H.E. Mitja Drobnicˇ, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs . SPAIN H.E. Miguel