The 'Arabism and Future' Conference issued a statement at the conclusion of its deliberations summing up the issues and dialogues posed by participants.
The statement said participants dealt with the concept of Arabism and its components as "an objective reality, an awareness of affiliation, an advanced identity, mutual concerns, a unifying project, freedom from division, a revival of the nation, a struggle that reconciles nationalism and patriotism, a national creed, and a bond based on language, history, land and diversity."
The statement pointed out that language is the most important element of affiliation in Arabism as it represents a means of expression and bolstering connections among members of a diverse group.
It stressed that Arabism is against isolation and clash of cultures since it is in essence a cultural and civilized mass that served as a bridge for communication and a source of civility and progress across history, affirming that Arabism is ready to resume its historic role in spreading progress and awareness across the world.
Regarding Arabism and religion, the statement said governments are bound to protect freedom of religion. As for globalization, it noted that globalization is a standing reality and that its negative aspects cannot be avoided.
The participants viewed the Palestinian cause as encompassing all Arabs and not only Palestinians, affirming that it represents Arabism's primary concern and central cause, making it the responsibility of all Arabs whether in defending it by all legitimate means or in supporting the Palestinian people to restore their rights.
They also discussed the issue of Arabism and ethnic diversity, indicating that Arab nationality includes minorities and ethnicities that give it diversity. They pointed out that this is a standing reality that must be acknowledged by recognizing the rights of these groups.
The statement said that history proves that Arabism is rich in struggle, culture, liberation, rationalism, critical depth and creativity, despite periods of recession and inactivity.
It also stressed that Arabism doesn't have a static definition since it is capable of progressing and developing, saying that it is wrong to be detached from modernity and modernization.
Regarding politics, the statement said Arabism cannot be properly achieved with policies that weaken Arab stances and directives and cause division, adding that denominational and sectarian fundamentalism is a threat to Arabism since they divide the nation.
The statement warned against attempts of causing division in the Arab nation, which can only be confronted by solid Arabism that defends the nation's right to be free and independent.
The conference also discussed the issue of Arabism and secularism, since secularism is a civil reality that protects religion from sectarianism and superstition, defends freedom of belief, and defends society from fanaticism and fundamentalism.
The statement concluded by calling for Arabism that expresses the dreams and aspirations of the Arab people, leads to enlightenment and wisdom, and achieves a future of unity in order to participate in making a human history governed by progress, justice and peace.
Earlier, the Conference discussed the topic of 'Arabism Versus Risks of Hegemony ' during its last session chaired by Dr. Eyad al- Barghouthi from Palestine.
Al-Barghouthi underlined the importance of the topics and ideas raised during the conference, calling for defining the essence of Arabism and the components of its identity more profoundly in addition to the internal and external problems facing the Arab Nation.
Through his lecture titled 'Arabism and Schemes of Spreading Division among the Nation', Dr. Fuad Khalil from Lebanon shed light on the external and internal factors of the issue of division which is an outcome of a complicated dynamism.
He pointed out to the importance of confronting this dynamism and uniting the Arab Nation to preserve its cultural identity.
He added that the strategic plan of the colonial West was based on thwarting any attempt to establish an independent Arab State and any unity project between two or more regional countries.
Researcher Samir Taqi talked about the Western mentality approach on the situation in the Arab region and the two basic theories of Daniel Pipes and Bernard Lewis on which the American policy depends in its relations with the Arab countries.
He added that the Israeli vision on the Arab nation puts schemes for each stage such as undermining the pan-Arab project, weakening the will of the Arab national project, and taking the factors and Arab strength to pieces.
Taqi predicted that "cultural attack" against Arabism would be the main issue in the coming stage.
© SANA (Syria Arab News Agency) 2010
