Thursday, Dec 30, 2010
Gulf News
Clinton and foreign ministers from various nations to participate in the three-day event
Manama US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and French Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie will be among 38 foreign ministers expected to participate in the Forum for the Future from January 11 to 13 in Qatar.
“Foreign ministers from various Arab countries, Canada, Spain, Switzerland, Hungary and Afghanistan will attend the forum,” Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi, the assistant foreign minister for follow-up, said. “Other participants representing international partners and a representative of the Japanese parliament will also be present,” the minister said.
The forum brings together the countries of the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) region and those of the G8.
As current chair of the G8, Canada and host country Qatar will co-chair the forum. Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Shaikh Hamad Bin Jasem Bin Jabr Al Thani and Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon will co-chair the opening session, Qatar News Agency (QNA) said, quoting Al Rumaihi, who is also chairman of Permanent Committee for Organising Conferences at the Foreign Ministry.
“The issues and themes such as reforms in the areas of democracy, governance, and elections, as well as the role of civil society organisations in the path of democracy and reform will be on the agenda of the three-day forum,” Al Rumaihi said.
“Other issues include peace between Palestine and Israel and instability in some regions. There will also be panel discussions and speeches by representatives of civil society and private sector,” he said.
Around 20 countries from the Middle East and North Africa, the Group of Eight and 10 international partners as well as 250 participants from civil society organisations and representatives of the business sector in the Middle East and the Group of Eight will participate in the forum to be officially opened by Shaikh Hamad, QNA said.
By Habib Toumi?Bureau chief
Gulf News 2010. All rights reserved.
