Doha Forum Continues Sessions on Challenges of New Democracies in Arab Region

Doha,May 21 (QNA) - The Doha Forum and Enriching the Middle East's Economic Future Conference held two sessions at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, here on Tuesdday. The first session entitled "Democracy" :Challenges Facing the New Democracies in the Region" .The second one entitled "International Cooperation": Horizons of Partnership -Challenges and Elements of Success" Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail,the former Foreign Minister who is also Minister of Investment in Sudan , spoke in the first session about the challenges that had been facing the new democracies in the region via five axes such as the development of the regional and world order toward democracy and the Palestinian issue which is exploited by Arab elites to slow down the reform process in the Arab region as well as the political environment in the Arab region in light of the Arab spring revolutions and the future of the region after these revolutions. Dr. Abdulaziz bin Othman Sager, the Director of the Gulf Research Center ,said while addressing the same session that one of the challenges that had been facing the new democracies is the ability to continue in the democratic process that was imposed by the Arab Spring revolutions ,adding that the ruling regimes resort to insert some constitutional amendments on the existing democratic system to turn gradually to totalitarian regimes. He pointed out that these regimes resort to insert some constitutional amendments to ensure its monopoly of power the matter which gives it legitimacy and acceptance ,referring meantime that the challenges facing the new democracies are related to security and economy. Deliberations in the first session dealt with issues of building of state institutions, law ,the constitution and the principle of separation of powers and legal accountability in addition to maintaining the unity of social fabric and the social, cultural , ethnic and religious links ,maintenance of civil rights, the freedom of expression and the peaceful demonstration of peoples. Discussions on the second session dealt with conflict resolution: the great powers ,the strategic interests and the role of the institutions, regional and international organizations to achieve the sustainable development and the role of the assistance and aid the joint projects in realizing the development and partnership in the public and private sectors .(QNA)