Ph.D. Secretary General ARAB THOUGHT FORUM P.O. Box 925418/1 11 10 - Tel. 678707/8 Tlx. 23649 Fax 675325 - Amman - Jordan juj cJI -IVAV.V/A .ijit - ^^\^ ' ARAB THOUGHT FORUM AMMAN 15th Jan. 1997 Dale .... His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan Secretary General r 1 5 United Nations Jm JAN 2 0 1997 New York EXECUTIVE OFFICE Dear Kofi, OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL I know by now you must have received thousands of congratulations, and mine is an addition to that stream of mail that reach your desk eveiy day. TM^congi;atulatiori_ isi from_a. Jrue. .friend wjio^always admi£e^_Ypu_as person with commendable^ human: Jj^,.TJroJessional _qualities. Our first meeting was when you came tihrough Arnman on the way to Iraq in 1990. When I moved to New York in 1991 we had more time to meet and exchange views regarding the role of the United Nations, and other issues of common concern. I was impressed with your vast knowledge of the way the UN works and of your total commitment to its cause and purpose. That is why I was very pleased when the member States elected you to the highest position in that great institution. I feel confident that you will do a great iob. j»~p..t,^iL.r.^.-v.i"..]:i-.- ••••-.:• •- , •.-,.• i.^.•.•-.-'-!)T-j-.y-?-=?T:»/->.••••-••*•.."••«»'*-'in -i—^.ftv:-..iy^n-^^wn-i>w^-f,ffrJ..fcl.,JM1i»^.^^,. As you can see I am now responsible fojjnanaging an NGO that deals with ideas__and tjiinking, of which we are in great need in this region. I hope I can succeed in enhancing the role of the Forum in relation to decision making. Fortunatly, we enjoy the privilege of having important members from all Arab Countries. Our Board of Trustees is Chaired by Crown Prince Hassan of Jordan. I enclose some literature for your information. I know you must be extremely too busy to pay attention to such small details, but I wanted you to know what I am doing. In the meantime, I wish you all the success you deserve in leading the United Nations to greater acheivements and higher recognition. I watched you inauguration ceremony and admired your acceptance speech. I also heard parts of your address to the UN staff in the General Assembly Hall. I think you are on the right track. Good luck and God bless. With warm regards and best wishes. Yours sincerely, Ali A. Amga Secretary General P.O. BOX 925418 . 930075, TEL. 678708/678707, TLX. 23649, FAX 675325, AMMAN - JORDAN "& Will J^lnVAY. JU 1YAY.Y iyjr V..YI) f V8iU J.J CONTENTS Page • Forward • What is i Functions and Activities 6 - Arab-International Dialogues 6 - Inter-Arab Dialogues 7 - Strategic Research g - >f7FPublications 8 Activities (1982-1994) 9 • Inter-Arab Activities • Arab-International Activities 15 Publications (1982-1994) 19 Board of Trustees 23 Executive Committee 24 Membership 25 Active Members 25 Supportive Members 32 FOREWORD "There is obviously desperate is a contribution of the contemporary Arab generation need for rethinking on a pushing ahead in the same path, towards the same great global scale. If a succession objectives of Arab nations. Its tools are rational thinking, of drastic events forces upon democratic dialogue, and creative interaction with other us a path of rethinking let this civilizations of the world. path not be a narrow one." Our slogan is "Belonging And Development:" belonging to our nation and to the motherland, and development of its human, spiritual, and material resources. Crown Prince Al HASSAN IBN TALAL President \ WHAT IS is an independent, pan - Arab, non - is structured as follows : governmental organization established in 1981 on the initiative of H.R.H. Crown Prince I. The General Assembly : Includes : Al Hassan Ibn Talal of Jordan and 25 eminent intellectual and developmental Arab Active Members who participate in activities figures, to promote greater linkages and vote in its general assembly, and between the Arab thinkers and the process of Supporting Members comprising Arab public policy formulation. organizations and institutions. principles , objectives and activities all aim 2.Board of Trustees : consists of Chairman, to generate debate on important three Vice Chairmen and twenty one developmental, cultural, and policy issues, in members. order to promote the Inter - Arab and Arab - International cooperation, 3. The Administrative Committee: consists of five members from the Board of Trustees in ATP organizes and participates in seminars, work- addition to the Secretary General. shops, conferences, bringing together public officials with intellectuals, scholars, and 4. General Secretariat: headed by a non- governmental organizations, from the Secretary General and Executive Organs. Arab world and many other countries around the world. Talal Abu Ghazaleh International Corporation Studies and research projects deal with is yTTF Honorary Auditors. pressing issues of the present and major challenges of the present and of the future. /•"ITF Is financed by membership fees, subscription for publications, and donations from individuals, and from unconditional donations from Arab and International non- governmental bodies. FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES In pursuit of its objectives, >3TF undertakes the following activities : / 1. Arab - International Dialogues 2. Inter Arab Dialogues These comprise conferences, seminars, and workshops These intensive workshops and symposia aim to initiate between j/VTf and its counterparts in various regions or geo quality discussions to formulate , analyze and articulate - political groupings around the world. Dialogues have been joint Arab action to deal with present and future problems. held with counterparts from Western Europe, North Some of the issues discussed have included: Arab National America, South East Asia, the former Soviet Union, Latin Security, Pan - Arab Political and Economic Integration, America, Ibero American, China, and Japan. Some of the Democratization, Cultural Authenticity, Relations Between key topics discussed at these meetings included Intellectuals and Decision Makers, the Use of Pan - Arab North - South Cooperation, South - South Cooperation , the Satellites, Political Pluralism, Arab Regional Cooperation, Arab-Israeli conflict and the Palestinian Intifada, Islamic Academic Freedom in Arab Universities, and Human Fundamentalism and Political Activism, Inter - religious Development in the Arab World. dialogues, Human Rights and Problems of Minorities, Nonviolent Political Struggle and International Cooperation vis - a - vis Problems of Development, Food Security and Third-World Debt. The Eighth Meeting Of ATF General Assembly, Held in Rabat From 27 To 28 June, 1994. Opening Session Attended By Princess Rahma Al Hassan Of Jordan And Princess Lala Mariam Al-Hassan II Of Morocco The third round of the Arab-Japanese Dialogue organized by S(TF and NIRA (Amman: 19-20 September 1992) \ 5. Advanced Technology Amman 13. Violence and Politics in Cairo/ & Its Implications for the the Arab world. (in Egypt Arab World. cooperation with Union of Arab Lawyers & Center for Political 6. Arab Cooperation in Amman Studies). Labor Exchange and Employment. 14. Islamic Resurgence In Amman The Arab Countries. ( in cooperation with Al - ALBAIT 7. Food Security in the Arab Amman Foundation). & Third World Countries (in Cooperation with IDRC/Canada). 15. Arab Intelligentsia and Cairo / Authorities Egypt 8. ARABSAT. and Horizons Amman (In cooperation with Arab For Developing the National Sociology Society & Union of Culture. Arab Lawyers) 9. Arab National Security. Amman 16. Future of Education in Bahrain The Arab World. (In cooperation with Arab Bureau of 10. External Indebtness of Amman Education for the Gulf States, & Arab Countries. (in Ministry of Education - Bahrain), Cooperation with Council of Arab Economic Unity). 17. Arab Youths and Rabat/ Problems of the Arab World 11. Distance Learning. (In Amman (In cooperation with Moh'd V Morocco cooperation with Al Quds Open University). University). 18. The Lebanese Crisis: Amman 12. Arab Debts and Assets Amman Economic & Social Impacts. Abroad: Polices & Alternatives. \ 19. The Maghreb: Cultural Tunis 26. Communalism, Ethnic Amman Perspectives & Economic Nationalism and the Modern Integration. State (In cooperation with Goethe Institute). 20. Political Pluralism in the Amman Arab world 27. Towards the Establish- Tunis ment of a New Arab Order. (In cooperation with Freidrich 21. The Arab World and Amman Eberl Foundation) the New International Humanitarian Order f In 28. Mass Movement of cooperation with Professional Population Amman Women Club - Jordan and AMID EAST.) 29. Human Development in Amman the Arab World. (in 22. Arab Regional Co- Amman cooperation with UNDP - New operation in the 1990s York). 23. Arab Education In the Amman 30. The Arab Family. (In 21st Century cooperation with UNICEF) Amman 24. New Arab Policies Amman 31. Gaza - Jericho Amman and East European Countries Agreement: The Economic Perspective. 25. Prospects for Regional Cairo/ Arab Cooperation in the Egypt 1990s. ( In cooperation with ESCWA ) \ &ternjrtipnal IWalQgues and Serniiiars 32. Meeting of Arab Amman Intellectuals for an Initiative to containing Deterioration in Inter - Arab Relations. 1. Europe and the Arab Amman World (Euro - Arab 33. The Arab - Israeli Rabat/ Dialogue I) Settlement: Morocco Conditions, Contents and 2. America and the Middle Amman Effects. East. (Arab - American - and Canadian Dialogue I) The Arab Development: Past Shortcomings and 3. Palestine, Funda- Amman Future Prospects. mentalism and Liberalism (Arab - Liberal 34. Academic Freedom in Amman International Dialogue) Arab Universities (In Amman cooperation with Freidrich Ebert 4. Arab - Asian Dialogue I Foundation). 5. Europe and the Security of Amman the M.E (Euro - Arab Diaogue II) Amman HUWDEVELOPME-mNTHEARABREGlONSSVllNAR 6. Inter - Religious Dialogue I 7. Arab - American Dialogue n Amman 8. Arab - Sino Dialogue Amman 9. Nonviolent Political Amman Struggle 10. Inter-Religious Dialogue II Windsor/ England "Human Development in the Arab Region" Seminar, Held in Amman From 10 11. Arab European Amman to 12 April 1993. Appearing from left Dr. Ali Oumlil. Mr. Ahmad Al-Lawzi Dialogue III and Dr. Ali Attiga 12. Prospects For Oil and Amman 21. Intei- Religious Windsor/ Future of Arab Dialogue V England Development.