DOHA: Tunisian Prime Minister Ali Larayedh said here yesterday that Tunisia was on track to create a new democratic society despite the teething pains of the first years after the revolution.
He also assured that Tunisia will not be a “theocratic state” and “will not discriminate against non-Muslims.”
Addressing the opening session of the Doha Forum at Ritz Carlton, Al Larayedh said: “The Tunisian people are trying to build a new humanitarian, civic, democratic, pluralistic country that protects human rights ... A civic state that is not religious or military. The individuals who represent the people will be chosen by the people as their legitimate representatives.”
“Tunisia is on the right path despite the challenges. A constitution will be adopted soon that will create a civic state: the constitution has been presented for public discussion and legislative elections will be held by the end of the year,” he added.
The opening session, entitled ‘Visions for Regional Peace, Stability and Development’, was attended by the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, the Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah and a number of diplomats and dignitaries.
A member of the ruling Islamist Ennahda party, Larayedh said Tunisia’s Islamist vision included rights for all and that the ballot box would be the ultimate protection against the return of despotism.
“Islam is a source of innovation, creativity and values. Tunisia will remain committed to its religion and openness. But we will not be a theocratic state. Tunisia will not discriminate against non-Muslims,” he said. “We want a democratic state because ... elections are the most important tool to limit despotic practices.”
Senegalese President Macky Sail in his speech called on the Arab countries to seize the opportunity to invest in African countries where economies are growing despite major shifts in the world economy,
“African countries have new investment opportunities in major sectors including agriculture, energy and infrastructure. The African Union has earmarked $68bn of infrastructure projects in five areas of the continent,” he said, adding: “We would like to invite Arab partners to come and help build the bridge between the Arab world and Africa,” he said.
Sail said African countries were pursuing a development model that had jettisoned old ideas focussed on state-led projects. “We want to go beyond state support for development because that hasn’t worked. We call for the private and public sectors to come together to build roads, railways, electricity plants and other useful projects in African regions,” he said, adding this would be the aim of a roundtable with G20 countries in St Petersburg later this year.
Britain’s Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown referred to Qatar’s active role in bringing peace and stability in the region and its efforts and development plans for the welfare of its citizens as well as for helping other countries in need.
He said that the region, over the next two decades, will see an economic boom and an increase in the growth rate, which will apply to the whole world. To achieve all that, more cooperation and interdependence among all nations is needed for the benefit of the region and the world at large, he added. He also touched on the importance of financing infrastructure plans and projects in the region, helping the youth and removing all obstacles in order to achieve the desired economic prosperity.
Vice President of the Republic of Argentina Amado Boudou underlined the need for concerted international efforts for achieving a global financial structure to bail the world from the current financial crisis and to provide economic opportunities for all.
He called for the improvement of incomes and the diversification of economic resources of the different countries, but he saw that some countries do not accept new things that can help in their economic prosperity because they are closed, while other countries, including Qatar and some Latin American countries, are open in their quest towards a prosperous and bright future for themselves and for other regions of the world.
Former Prime Minister of France, Francois Fillon lauded the Qatari model of development, pluralism and contribution to facing international challenges.
He called for a quick solution to the Syrian crisis and for the convening of the proposed international conference, which he considered, the last chance to end the fighting in Syria.
He stressed the importance of the proposal put forward by Gordon Brown, former British Prime Minister for the establishment of an Arab financial structure to strengthen partnerships among regional countries and to be an engine for future joint investment policies.
Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Wolfgang Ischinger focused on the Syrian crisis and the Palestinian issue and called for effective international action to promote peace and security in the region.
The Peninsula
