Participants in the second Asia Middle East Dialogue meeting underline the importance of cooperation and inter-faith harmony, Doaa El-Bey reports At the end of the two-day meeting of the second Asia Middle East Dialogue (AMED-II) in the Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh, participants issued a declaration of principles aimed at promoting peace, amity and cooperation among their peoples and which would strengthen the solidarity and working relationships present among member states. The meeting, held under the theme "Partnership in Action Towards a Better Future", avoided discussing pressing political issues in the Middle East, deemed likely to detract attention from cooperation between the two regions. But the absence of a Syrian delegation cast light on inter-Arab differences. Egypt sent a low level delegation to the Damascus Arab summit last month. It is believed that in response Syria chose to not attend the AMED-II meeting. Commenting on the Syrian absence, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul- Gheit said in a news conference before the final session of the dialogue that he noticed the Syrian absence during the second day of the meeting and did not know why they did not attend while officially invited. "Egypt, or any of the member states, do not have any problem with Syria's participation in the meeting as part of the Middle East, the Arab world and the current president of the Arab summit," he said. The final declaration of principles addressed important issues like supporting interfaith and intercultural dialogue, underlining the importance of public-private partnership in expanding economic cooperation among member states, backing moves to establish the Middle East as a region free of weapons of mass destruction, supporting an initiative to convene an international conference on combating terrorism under the auspices of the UN, encouraging the establishment of an international centre for the same purpose in accordance with the recommendations of the international anti-terrorism conference held in Saudi Arabia in 2005, and renewing the promotion of greater interaction between the two regions, particularly amongst youth and women. Interfaith dialogue, including mutual respect and understanding, was one of the most important issues discussed during AMED-II. Abul-Gheit said during his news conference that there was significant interest in the subject as well as dismay about the extremism of certain parties in relation to the issue. "We are trying to convince people for whom contemplating religion is not part of one's personal freedom, but part of one's freedom to humiliate those who belong to that religion," he said. Raouf Saad, general coordinator of the meeting, said that the dialogue's aim is to reach an understanding as to how to deal with the phenomenon and causes in particular of escalating interfaith conflict. "We need to reach a mechanism for dialogue that would deliver a message to the world that religions should propagate tolerance," he said. In his closing speech, Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Noppadon Pattama expressed his belief that academics and the media can play a critical role in reducing conflict. "We should thus promote more cross-cultural media activities... to help foster respect, sensitivity and accurate perceptions across cultures and echo the voice of moderation in every society in AMED, and beyond." The issue of public-private partnership was thoroughly discussed during the meeting. Speakers reiterated the importance of boosting government-civil society partnerships, giving the latter more room for manoeuvre in communities and in countries. Mona Zulficar, a member of the Egyptian National Council for Human Rights, said that civil society actors do not seek profit or authority, but only to serve the community. "Given that civil society [organisations] are closer to the public than the government, and more capable of feeling their suffering, they should be given more freedom to express their opinion and play a role in the development of society," she said. The control of communicable diseases was another issue of mutual concern to the two regions, especially ways to control bird flu. Given that it is a problem that both regions are suffering from, cooperation in that area is a must. Mona Mehrez, a supervisor in the Egyptian Central Control Laboratories, said that information should be exchanged on the disease between the two regions, as well as drawing up guidance programmes and setting joint emergency plans to confront the disease. The management of human resources in the two regions was another issue before the meeting. The massive investment and construction boom in the Middle East region has resulted in rising demand for skilled as well as semi-skilled labour. Cooperation as well as human resources development between the two regions is for the mutual benefit of both. The two regions, delegates were told, have abundant intellectual and technical expertise that can be shared and encouraged to work together. In a session about promoting cooperation in the fields of science and technology, keynote speakers focussed on the importance of investing in human development. Japan's Ambassador to Egypt Yasuo Matsui underlined the importance of education, especially basic education, as well as embracing science. Additional topics tackled by AMED-II included dealing with natural disasters, promoting tourism, enhancing financial cooperation, developing information technology infrastructure, and addressing the effects of climate change. AMED, which has 50 member states, including China and Egypt, represents almost two-thirds of the world's population and more than 60 per cent of its international resource reserves. The first meeting was held in Singapore in June 2005 with a view to realising greater understanding and fostering multidimensional dialogue and cooperation between Asia and the Middle East. In his closing speech, Pattama said that AMED meetings provided an important opportunity for Asian and Middle Eastern states to meet and learn from each other's experiences, including respective failures. The dialogue is set to continue across member states via a website to be established for that purpose by AMED. The next meeting, AMED-III, will be held in Thailand in 2010 followed by another in Saudi Arabia one or two years later.
