UAE-POLITICS: Book on Arab regional order released

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Att.Editors: The following item is by the United Arab Emirates news agency (WAM)

ABU DHABI, May 27 2003 (IPS) - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Zayed Centre for Coordination and Follow-up (ZCCF) has recently issued a book under the title "The Arab Regional Order amidst International Changes".

The book includes the papers presented in the symposium held by the ZCCF for the period May 4-5, 2003. A number of thinkers and researchers took part in the symposium which tackled the international political and economic changes, the status quo and the future of the Arab regional system from economic, political and geographical perspectives and related issues, according to a press release.

In his inaugural address at the symposium Mohammed Khalifa Al Murar, ZCCF Executive Director, said that organizing such a symposium and lectures by the Centre sets the ground for dialogues and contacts among nations. The think tanks and research centers are the ideal places where such a task is fulfilled, he said.

He added that Arabs must consider their future carefully, that a bright future is constructed by the faithful Arab hands, and that development and prosperity are closely connected with science and technology.

The representative of the Arab League said in his address that the importance of the symposium lies in the Centre, affiliated to the Arab League, which organized it, the subject discussed and timing of the symposium, at such a critical time.

The papers presented by Dr. Mohammed Al Magdoub, former deputy of the Chairman of the Constitutional Council in Lebanon, and Dr. Ragheed Al Sulh, the advisor for political affairs in the ESCWA, focus on the political dimensions of the international changes and also the Arab regional order from various aspects.

Dr. Butris Antwan Lebki, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Lebanese Development Establishment, and Dr. Samir Subh dealt in their papers with the international economic and social changes and their reflections on the Arab regional system.

The symposium issued a number of recommendations which stressed the importance of maintaining the Arab League as a symbol of Arab unity and a forum for dialogue, the necessity of promoting the Arab regional order which expresses the aspirations of the Arab nation. The Arab intellectual and political institutions were also called upon to play an effective role in this process.

The recommendations also called for supporting and promoting Arab specialized organizations and non-governmental organizations, being basic tributaries for Arab unity, activating all mechanisms of joint Arab action, and supporting UN regional organizations in the Arab region.