Third Roundtable Outcome Report
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
THIRD INTERNATIONAL ROUNDTABLE ON CONSTRUCTING PEACE, DECONSTRUCTING TERROR Restructuring Relations between the Western and Islamic Countries European Parliament, Brussels, 26-27 November 2006 Co-hosted by Strategic Foresight Group and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Endorsed by the League of Arab States In cooperation with Friedrich Naumann Stiftung (With research support from the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Strategic Foresight Group and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the European Parliament convened the Third International Roundtable on Constructing Peace, Deconstructing terror held at the European Parliament, Brussels, on 26-27 November 2006. The Roundtable was endorsed by the League of Arab States. It engaged important public institutions from the Western and Islamic worlds. The Friedrich Naumann Stiftung of Germany extended its cooperation. The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided support for the research that went into the preparation for the Roundtable. Strategic Foresight Group also appreciates intensive cooperation personally extended by H.E Dr Amre Moussa, Secretary General of the Arab League and HRH Prince Turki al Faisal, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for the success of the Roundtable. About 40 leaders from Europe, Asia and the Middle East participated in the Roundtable. They included serving cabinet ministers, former ministers, leaders of parliamentary groups, special envoys of the heads of multilateral organisations and directors of important institutions. The distinguished group recommended an Inclusive Semi Permanent Conference on Peace in the Middle East, Western Islamic Dialogue and Engagement Initiative, International Historical Study Group on Common Human Civilisation, Arab Islamic Renaissance Initiative and the promotion of the Compact of Dialogue-Democracy-Development. The Roundtable welcomed the Report of the High Level Group of the Alliance of Civilizations of the United Nations. Background Since 9/11, terrorism, extremism and the apparent conflict between the Western and Islamic countries have dominated global policy discourse. Frequent acts of terror in the name of religion, nationalism and ideology have undermined global security and economy. While specific groups have used terror and extremism to drive a wedge between the Western and Islamic countries, acts of terror also continue to undermine human security in other countries such as Uganda, Colombia and Sri Lanka, just to name a few. In 2006, the deficit of trust between the Western and Islamic countries expanded beyond the US led war on terror and its criticism in many parts of the world. The controversies over cartoons, the Pope’s remarks on Islam, plots unearthed in Canada and the UK, and the war between Israel and Hezbollah demonstrated the fragility of global security. The conflict between Israel and the Palestinian government has reached an acute crisis. The war in Iraq has destabilized the entire region and inflicted heavy human costs on the Iraqi people, as well as the coalition forces. The current counter terrorism strategy pursued by a group of nations has evidently failed to curb support for extremism. If the relations between the Western and Islamic countries continue to slide, the world will incur heavy opportunity costs and risks. It is necessary to emphasize that terrorism and extremism are the problems of humanity and not of the Islamic world alone, and must be dealt with as such. At the same time, it is urgently required to explore a new partnership between Western and Islamic countries to bring about global transformation. On this background, several inter-faith and academic exchanges have been launched. However, there is a clear deficit of political processes. Strategic Foresight Group (SFG) has precisely filled this vacuum by holding three International Roundtables on Constructing Peace, Deconstructing Terror. Project History Strategic Foresight Group had organized the First International Roundtable on Constructing Peace, Deconstructing Terror at New Delhi in June 2004. It brought together leading strategic thinkers from the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, resulting in a declaration that proposed a distinction between terrorism and acts of terror and dissociation of religion from terror. SFG organized the Second International Roundtable in collaboration with ALDE group in the European Parliament, attracting the participation of senior leaders and government representatives from Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Canada. The Second Roundtable recommended a policy of zero tolerance of terror and transformation strategies for dissuading young people from supporting terror and extremism. It also recommended a political process resulting in a Heads of Government Summit. Since the Second International Roundtable, SFG has engaged in a series of consultations with key leaders and institutions from the Western and Islamic countries. For instance: • In March 2006, the Secretariat of the United Nations Secretary General’s Alliance of Civilizations invited SFG for consultations with senior executives and diplomats of the countries supporting the Secretary General’s initiative; • In May 2006, the World Economic Forum invited SFG President to chair a dialogue between the Deputy Secretary of State of the United States and the Secretary General of the League of Arab States on freedom and development; • In June 2006, Liberal International, an alliance of 85 political parties from all continents of the world, invited SFG to discuss the way ahead in the international community’s response to terrorism at its Executive Meeting; • In August 2006, the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs supported a workshop organized by SFG and SMWIPM Institute of Peace Studies at Bibliotheca Alexandrina, bringing together experts on extremism from most parts of the world to provide comparative analysis and policy recommendations on deconstructing terror. The main observations and recommendations from the Alexandria Workshop were reflected in the draft policy paper circulated at the Third International Roundtable. • In September 2006, the ALDE Leader addressed the Plenary of the European Parliament with proposals for long term approaches for restructuring relations between Europe and the Middle East. • In November 2006, the Liberal International World Congress at Marrakech, Morocco, which works closely with ALDE, discussed global terrorism, and the concept of an inclusive semi-permanent process to address the issues of peace and security in the Middle East. In addition to these activities, SFG held consultations with several governments and multilateral organizations around the world in the last two years. These include Canada, United States, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, European Union, Egypt, Turkey, Oman, Qatar, Indonesia, Malaysia, League of Arab States, Islamic Development Bank and United Nations Secretariat, among others. SFG also consulted many serving and former Heads of Governments in this process. Third International Roundtable The Third International Roundtable held at the European Parliament began on November 26, 2006 with a reception and dinner, followed by deliberations over the whole of the next day, i.e November 27. Mr Graham Watson , Leader of the ALDE Group, Dr Wolfgang Gerhardt , President of the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung and Mr Sundeep Waslekar , President of SFG opened the inaugural session with welcome addresses. Mr Siim Kallas , First Vice President of the European Commission, welcomed the participants on behalf of Europe and emphasised the importance of good governance in his special keynote address. Dr Wolfgang Gerhardt most aptly summarised the objectives of the Roundtable in his welcome address. “When Strategic Foresight Group initiated this process with the First International Roundtable on Constructing Peace, Deconstructing Terror at New Delhi in 2004, Friedrich Naumann Stiftung very promptly decided to support it. Since 9/11 there have been many dialogues and exchanges between scholars, religious leaders and civil society institutions but there has been deficit of political efforts. The problems we face are essentially political and we need political response. Therefore we welcome the initiative taken by SFG to engage political stakeholders. We welcome that ALDE, a political group in the European Parliament, is providing co- leadership to this process. Terrorism is an old phenomenon but it has acquired global attention since 9/11. In terms of statistics, terrorism may cause less number of deaths than poverty, genocide, or even car accidents. But terrorism is an assault on core human values of liberty, justice, trust and tolerance. Both acts of terror and counterterrorism measures can undermine human dignity and human rights. They threaten trust that is necessary for trade, travel, communication and all forms of human interaction that are essential for progress of the humanity. It is necessary to deconstruct terror to protect core human values. Our meetings are not just about dialogues. They are about finding politically feasible solutions to the problems facing us. It is important that these solutions reflect core human values and not compromises based on political expediency. Strategic Foresight Group has a track record in exploring value-based working solutions to the problems of society. This is their intention here. It is also our intention at the FNSt.” Ambassador Hesham Youssef , Special Envoy of the Secretary