Fez: Economic challenge could hinder Arab democratic transition

The Eighth Edition of the Fes Forum on the Alliance of Civilizations, Cultural Diversity and the Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation cautioned Monday that the grinding economic challenges poses real risk to the democratic transition in the Arab region. The forum sponsored by Moroccan King Mohammad VI and themed "the Young and the Challenges of Globalization: Environment, Education, Training and Creativity," came to a close here this evening after adopting a final communique. The conferees highlighted in the document the need to tackle the economic challenges through proper means and national consensus based on deep political conviction of democracy, equitable distribution of wealth and peaceful power swap. They urged pursuing the constitutional and political reforms in the Arab countries in the framework of partnership between the governments, on one hand, and the civil society institutions, on the other, in order to ensure smooth democratic transition and avoid any social imbalances. They lauded the Moroccan experiment in democratization as an example for other Arab and African nations, noting that Morocco started adopting the multi-party system long ago and that recent reforms of the constitution exceeded the aspirations of the people. The four-day gathering, organized by the Moroccan Center for Interdisciplinary Strategic and International Studies (CMIESI), brought together eminent political, cultural and religious celebrities from around the globe including Director-General of Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic and Social Development (KFAED) Abdul-Latif Al-Hamad. It debated topics such as; joys and sorrows toward the achievement of the objectives of the development Millennium; human development and the achievement of the objectives of the Millennium within a policy of South-South cooperation; and the young people's conception of conditions for consistent world partnership and a specific agenda of implementation.