The Seventh Annual Meeting of the Arab Reform Forum Comes to a Close
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Alexandria—The Seventh Annual Meeting of the Arab Reform Forum, held over 3 days under the title “A New World is Shaping… What is the Role of the Arabs?”, came to a close on Wednesday, 3 March 2010.
The Closing Session tackled the future of Arabs, and was moderated by Dr. Khaled Azab, Director of the BA Media Department. Azab announced the establishment of a new Unit in the Library for Future Studies in the Arab World, bringing together a group of young researchers to draft scenarios for Arab future.
Participants discussed good governance in the Arab world, absence of a clear vision of inter-Arab relations, and reform from an Arab perspective. They also shed lights on the Arab Common Market (ACM) , a raising priority for Arab national security. Participants stressed the importance of achieving sustainable development and fostering values of citizenship, in addition to promoting education, empowering women, and addressing the challenges facing development.
Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Library, gave a speech in the closing session, where he emphasized that this meeting has truly changed from mere criticism of the status quo and hopeless calls for reform to laying real foundations for a better future of the Arab world. Serageldin highlighted the importance of renewing the Arab cultural thought, and changing political, media and religious discourses. He also asserted values of openness and diversity, and scientific methods of thinking.
Serageldin announced Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) winner of the sixth round of Adel Abu Zahra’s Prize, amounting to 50,000 Egyptian pounds, in addition to Dr. Adel Abu Zahra’s shield. Serageldin stated that the prize was withheld this year in the field of dialogue and freedom of expression.