A Washington-inspired project for Middle East reform will begin in Morocco next month by looking at ways of improving cooperation and strengthening political and economic reform, the foreign ministry said here. The project, formally presented in June by President George W. Bush at a Group of Eight (G-8) summit, has been treated with reserve in the Arab world. The December 11 meeting of Arab foreign and finance ministers plus G-8 countries will examine ways of "consolidating the commitment of Middle East and North African countries to fruitful co-development and the harmonious strengthening of the process of political, economic and social reform."
To be called the Forum for the Future, it would serve as an initial step towards "a frank, constructive partnership, based on co-responsibility between the countries of the region and G-8." But this partnership must "respect the will and specific characteristics of each country and seek a just and lasting settlement of sources of tension in the region." |