As Prepared:
Thank you very much for inviting me to address the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) annual conference in Geneva which is an opportunity for me to meet this esteemed audience at a very exceptional juncture.
The first point that comes to my mind as a speaker is that we meet today two days before the commemoration of the sad events of 11 September 2001, it will be a decade ago shortly when a heinous act of terrorism was committed leading to a bloody decade of confrontation and wars as well as to policies based on doubtful and unsubstantiated theories such as the Clash of Civilizations and the End of History.
This criminal act left all of us, regardless of nationality, geography, religion, color or creed, in rage, in shame and in disbelief. Disbelief despite that it was live on air from the outset to the end.
Few years earlier before 9/11 there were celebrations around the world marking the end of the cold war and the demise of the Soviet Union. We should also recall that in October 1991 the Madrid conference for peace in the Middle East was held and produced a chain of negotiations and the recognition of the Principle of Land for Peace. The world at large and the Middle East in particular was full of hope that a new era of justice and prosperity for all would emerge and a new international order….a different world order would be established and the world would be heading to a better future.
Unfortunately this did not happen. It continued to be business as usual. Double standards formed the basis for many policies and remained one of the preferred international practices. The clash of civilizations, with special reference to Islam became a leading world stage line of policy. Major conflicts and issues such as the Arab/Israeli conflict were placed on the backburner of a train going nowhere. The developing nations with a very few exceptions remained far behind, especially in Africa. In other words no change was visible which led to further frustration and for sentiments of despair to prevail. Questions were raised about the direction of the world, would this indeed be the end of history? In other words is what we see is what we get forever. Could anybody, any people accept this?
This certainly created bitter feelings in many parts of the world especially in the Middle East.
Having said that I would like to quickly say that the atmosphere of despair and frustration in the Middle East and in particular in the Arab world could not and should not be connected to the international causes alone. In fact, the Arab people were enraged, accumulating anger and feelings of rejection because of the policies pursued by the so called “elected” leaders, elected time and again through fraud. The misrule, the dictatorial rule, the introduction of ruling family aspirations to perpetuate dynasties, consolidate hegemonies and strengthen their grip on power, in addition to the gathering of enormous wealth triggered the opposition then the uprising, then the revolution of the people against those rulers. People went to the streets in an unprecedented move in the Arab world to topple those rulers and put an end to those regimes.
They could not accept anymore to be robbed of their present and future by such regimes, insulted and humiliated by those unacceptable policies.
Change was a must and it was time for change. In fact many world powers expected and wanted a change. Some of them went further to force that change within certain parameters.
The greater Middle East was one of those plans for change which meant inter-alia to prepare the ground for the era post the demise of the dictators.
In fact, the big powers enjoyed the full cooperation of many of those leaders and became good friends; however those very leaders were fully rejected by their people.
So the careful handling by some big powers for a change under their auspices coincided with the brave drive by the people in several Arab countries to take the matters in their hands. Revolution occurred and succeeded by the people and for the people, oblivious of any foreign plans or interests.
Hence, what we are witnessing today has no relation to the plans put forward under whatever banner including in particular the policy of propagating a greater and broader Middle East. Let me tell you that instead of a greater Middle East you will have a vigorous Arab world in the years to come. This will be good for a safer future for the Middle East ….and redrawn by its people and the effect of their political landscape.
The changes in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Syria and Libya were genuine, and the change will affect the whole region. Perhaps in different degrees with different approaches but all shall fall within the parameters of change in the Arab world. Therefore we shall see a different Middle East in the next few months and years.
In this connection three elements are to be highlighted:
1-Successful popular uprisings in the Arab region want their countries to follow engaging, forthcoming and productive policies that would produce a better region which is peaceful and prosperous.
2-There will be a steady policy towards a new Arab paradigm of more coordination and cooperation, not the contrary.
3-In this connection striving for a fair peace in the Middle East and putting an end to the Arab/Israeli conflict shall continue to enjoy high priority on the Arab agenda. We shall continue to abide by the Arab peace initiative of 2002.
The new revolutionary regimes would be more anxious to reach a fair peace in the Middle East. I see this as a very positive point. In fact the total submission of previous regimes has led nowhere. Those policies were empty and added to the rage of the people. The time has come for a result oriented peace process.
Time has come for many policy makers around the world to take the new Arab world more seriously; this new Arab world will be soon in the making, sooner than expected.
I see a new Arab world, vigorous, young, demanding, in a state of production, friendly to the world including the West but not in a state of defeat or submission. The young generation, representing the trigger for the new regimes, need peace and justice and development to prevail. They will have good relations with all those who would help them and those who would present to them genuine help towards achieving their goals.
A win-win situation is what we together should work for. No other formula would succeed.
Additional points
-The need to solve the Palestinian question.
-The role of the new Arab League to cope with the new era of Arab revolutions
-Its role in Libya and Syria
-The developments in Egypt
-The new world order and its need for a new Arab world
