

Currently released so far... 12404 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
ASEC
AE
AF
AM
AR
AJ
AU
AORC
AG
AEMR
AMGT
APER
AGMT
AL
AFIN
AO
AMED
ADCO
AS
ABUD
ABLD
ASUP
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APECO
AID
AND
AMBASSADOR
AN
ARM
AY
AODE
AMG
ASCH
AMCHAMS
ARF
APCS
APEC
ASEAN
AGAO
ANET
ADPM
ACOA
ACABQ
AORL
AFFAIRS
ATRN
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ADANA
ASIG
AA
AX
AUC
AC
AECL
AADP
AGRICULTURE
AMEX
ACAO
ACBAQ
AQ
AORG
ADM
AINF
AIT
ASEX
AGR
AROC
ATFN
AFGHANISTAN
AFU
AER
ALOW
AZ
AVERY
BA
BY
BU
BR
BE
BL
BO
BK
BM
BILAT
BH
BEXP
BF
BTIO
BC
BBSR
BMGT
BTIU
BG
BWC
BB
BD
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BN
BIDEN
BT
CW
CH
CF
CD
CV
CVIS
CM
CE
CA
CJAN
CLINTON
CIA
CU
CASC
CI
CO
CACM
CDB
CN
CMGT
CS
CG
CBW
CIS
CR
CONDOLEEZZA
CPAS
CAN
CWC
CY
COUNTER
CDG
CL
CT
CIC
CIDA
CSW
CHR
CB
CODEL
COUNTERTERRORISM
CTR
COM
CICTE
CFED
CJUS
CKGR
CBSA
CEUDA
CARSON
CONS
CITEL
CLMT
CROS
CITT
CAC
CVR
CDC
CAPC
COPUOS
CBC
CBE
CARICOM
COE
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CACS
CTM
CNARC
ECON
EFIN
ETRD
EUN
EFIS
EG
ETTC
EZ
EPET
EAID
EAGR
ENRG
ECUN
EU
ELAB
ECPS
EAIR
EINV
ELTN
EWWT
EIND
EMIN
EI
ECIN
ENVR
ELECTIONS
EINVEFIN
EN
ES
ER
EC
EUC
EINT
EINVETC
ENGR
ET
EK
ENIV
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ECONOMY
EAP
EFTA
EUR
EUMEM
EXIM
ERD
ENERG
EUREM
ESA
ERNG
EXTERNAL
EPA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
ECONOMICS
ELN
EINN
EFINECONCS
ENNP
EEPET
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ENVI
ETRO
ESENV
ECINECONCS
ECONOMIC
EAIDS
EDU
ETRA
ETRN
EFIM
EIAR
ETRC
EAIG
EXBS
EURN
ECIP
EREL
ECA
ENGY
ECONCS
ECONEFIN
ETC
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINDETRD
IR
IZ
IS
IAEA
INRB
IRAJ
IQ
IN
IT
IMO
INTERPOL
ICAO
IO
IC
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
ICTY
ID
IPR
IWC
ILC
INTELSAT
IL
IBRD
IMF
IA
IRC
ICRC
ILO
ITU
ITRA
IV
IDA
IAHRC
ICJ
ISRAELI
IRS
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
IZPREL
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITF
IBET
IEFIN
INR
IACI
INTERNAL
IDP
IGAD
IEA
ICTR
IIP
INRA
INRO
IF
KJUS
KSCA
KNNP
KU
KCOR
KCRM
KDEM
KTFN
KHLS
KPAL
KWBG
KACT
KGHG
KPAO
KTIA
KIRF
KWMN
KS
KG
KZ
KN
KMDR
KISL
KSPR
KHIV
KPRP
KAWK
KR
KUNR
KDRG
KCIP
KGCC
KTIP
KSUM
KPKO
KVIR
KAWC
KPIN
KGIC
KRAD
KIPR
KOLY
KCFE
KMCA
KE
KV
KICC
KNPP
KBCT
KSEP
KFRD
KFLU
KVPR
KOCI
KBIO
KSTH
KMPI
KCRS
KOMC
KTBT
KPLS
KIRC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFLO
KBTS
KSTC
KTDB
KFSC
KX
KFTFN
KNEI
KIDE
KREC
KMRS
KICA
KPAONZ
KCGC
KSAF
KRGY
KCMR
KRVC
KVRP
KSEO
KCOM
KAID
KTEX
KNUC
KNAR
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KLIG
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCRCM
KHDP
KGIT
KNSD
KOMS
KWMM
KPAI
KHSA
KTLA
KO
KMFO
KRCM
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KPWR
KID
KWNM
KRIM
KPOA
KCHG
KOM
KSCI
KFIN
KMOC
KESS
KWAC
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KPRV
KBTR
KERG
KTER
KDDG
KPAK
KRFD
KHUM
KDEV
KCFC
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KJUST
MARR
MOPS
MU
MTCRE
MNUC
MY
MASS
MCAP
MOPPS
MAR
MPOS
MO
ML
MR
MASC
MX
MD
MP
MA
MTRE
MIL
MCC
MZ
MK
MDC
MRCRE
MAPS
MV
MI
MEPN
MAPP
MEETINGS
MAS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTCR
MG
MC
MARAD
MIK
MILITARY
MEDIA
MEPI
MUCN
MEPP
MT
MERCOSUR
MW
MASSMNUC
MQADHAFI
NZ
NATO
NG
NI
NO
NATIONAL
NU
NPT
NIPP
NL
NPG
NS
NA
NGO
NP
NSG
NDP
NAFTA
NR
NC
NH
NE
NSF
NPA
NK
NSSP
NRR
NATOPREL
NSC
NT
NW
NORAD
NEW
NV
NSFO
NAR
NASA
NZUS
OTRA
OVIP
OPRC
OPDC
OSCE
OAS
ODIP
OIIP
OFDP
OVP
OREP
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OEXC
OPCW
OIE
OIC
OFDA
OSCI
OPIC
OBSP
OECD
ON
OCII
OHUM
OES
OCS
OMIG
OPAD
OTR
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PINR
PTER
PSOE
PINS
PARM
PK
PBTS
PEPR
PM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PREF
PBIO
PROP
PA
PSI
PINT
PO
PKFK
PL
PAK
PE
POLITICS
PINL
POL
PHSA
PU
PF
POV
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PARMS
PRGOV
PNAT
POLINT
PRAM
PMAR
PG
PAO
PROG
PRELP
PPA
PCUL
PSEPC
PSA
PREO
PAHO
PGIV
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POSTS
PTBS
PGOVLO
PORG
PGOVE
PLN
PINF
PAS
PUNE
POLICY
PDEM
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PHUMPGOV
PMIL
PNG
PP
PS
PHUH
PECON
POGOV
PY
PHUMPREL
PHUS
PRL
PGOC
PNR
PGGV
PROV
PTERE
PGOF
PHUMBA
PEL
RS
RU
RW
REGION
RP
RICE
ROBERT
RSP
RUPREL
RM
RO
RCMP
RSO
RELATIONS
REACTION
REPORT
RIGHTS
ROOD
RF
RFE
RIGHTSPOLMIL
SP
SA
SY
SF
SYR
SENV
SCUL
SOCI
SNAR
SO
SU
SG
STEINBERG
SHUM
SW
SMIG
SR
SZ
SIPRS
SI
SAARC
SPCE
SARS
SN
SYRIA
SANC
SL
SCRS
SC
SENVKGHG
SAN
SNARCS
SHI
SWE
SNARIZ
SIPDIS
SEN
SNARN
SPCVIS
SEVN
SSA
SH
SOFA
SK
ST
TPHY
TU
TRGY
TI
TX
TS
TW
TC
TFIN
TD
TSPA
TH
TT
TIP
TBIO
TSPL
TZ
TERRORISM
TRSY
TN
THPY
TINT
TF
TL
TV
TK
TO
TP
TURKEY
TNGD
TBID
TAGS
TR
UP
US
UNSC
UK
UZ
UE
UNESCO
UV
UNGA
UN
UNMIK
UNO
UY
UAE
UNEP
UG
UNHCR
UNHRC
USUN
UNAUS
USTR
USNC
USOAS
UNCHR
UNCSD
UNDP
USEU
USPS
UNDC
UNDESCO
UNCHC
UNFICYP
UNC
UNODC
UNPUOS
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCHS
UNVIE
USAID
UNIDROIT
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 05MANAMA1676, FORUM FOR THE FUTURE: NOVEMBER 11 SENIOR
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05MANAMA1676.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
05MANAMA1676 | 2005-11-14 11:11 | 2011-04-28 00:12 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Manama |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MANAMA 001676
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA, EUR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM KMPI EAID PREL PGOV PHUM BA AF CA JA PK TU OVIP RICE CONDOLEEZZA
SUBJECT: FORUM FOR THE FUTURE: NOVEMBER 11 SENIOR
OFFICIALS MEETING
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: The Senior Officials Meeting of the BMENA
Forum for the Future on November 11 finalized preparations
for the Ministerial session the following day.
Representatives of governments, civil society and the private
sector reviewed progress on BMENA initiatives undertaken
since last December's Forum in the areas of education,
economy and democracy. There was general agreement that
considerable progress had been made, with perhaps the most
significant achievement being the cooperative atmosphere of
constructive dialogue that has developed between civil
society and governments. The USG explained plans to launch
the Foundation for the Future (to support civil society) and
the Fund for the Future (to support SMEs) on the margins of
the Ministerial session. END SUMMARY.
--------
Overview
--------
¶2. (U) The second annual Forum for the Future opened
November 11 in Manama, Bahrain, with a Senior Officials
Meeting to finalize preparations for the Ministerial meeting
November 12. The Forum includes government representatives
from the G8 and the countries of the Broader Middle East and
North Africa (BMENA) as well as civil society and business
representatives involved in BMENA activities. The Senior
Officials Meeting was divided into four broad themes:
Knowledge and Education; Finance Ministers Report; Civil
Society and the Democracy Assistance Dialogue (DAD); and
discussion of the Foundation for the Future and Fund for the
Future.
-----------------------
Knowledge and Education
-----------------------
¶3. (U) Delegates provided an update on the Education
Framework for Action, created at the May 2005 Dead Sea
Ministerial in Jordan. Since that meeting, BMENA governments
and their G-8 partners have held regular dialogues intended
to move the agenda forward in three main areas: education
quality, use of technology in the classroom, and inclusion of
all segments of society, particularly women and girls. The
Egyptians announced that they would host the next
Ministerial, planned for May 2006 in Sharm el-Sheikh.
¶4. (U) The second segment focused on the elimination of
illiteracy, with presentations made by the governments of
Algeria and Afghanistan. Department of Education Deputy
Chief of Staff Robin Gilchrist reaffirmed the U.S. commitment
to work with countries in the region that make education
reform a priority. This includes political commitment at the
highest levels to provide quality education for every citizen
in each country. She cited the No Child Left Behind Act,
launched four years ago in the United States, as an example.
Gilchrist further introduced the Global Learning Portal, a
network to assist Arab educators to provide reliable
educational resources at the national and international
levels.
¶5. (U) The third segment centered on promoting youth skills
for employment through a program called technical and
vocational education and training (TVET). Delegates from
Japan and Jordan discussed results from the G8-BMENA TVET
workshop they co-sponsored in September, including
identification of the major challenges facing the region. To
address such problems as rising unemployment (which the
Jordanian delegate said now totals 12.5 million people in
Arab countries, including 32 percent of youth) and increasing
poverty of semi-skilled workers, the German delegation
explained the development of new training systems
commensurate with today's complex work environment and the
need for demand-driven rather than supply-driven training
models.
¶6. (U) In the final segment, delegates from Morocco and
Bahrain reported on the status of the two Entrepreneurship
Centers planned in those countries. Conceived during the
first Forum in Rabat, the proposed regional centers for
training and supporting entrepreneurs have yet to be
launched. The delegates reported that business plans have
been completed and administrative structures have been put in
place, but the question of financing for the two institutes
has delayed their opening. Delegates from the US and UK, two
countries which have already provided financial support to
establish the Centers, encouraged others government to
contribute to the Centers.
-------------------------------------
Outcome of Finance Ministers Meetings
-------------------------------------
¶7. (U) The UK provided an overview of discussions by BMENA
Finance Ministers over the past year and turned to
representatives of groups undertaking specific BMENA
initiatives: The Arab Business Council (ABC), Arab Monetary
Fund, International Finance Corporation (IFC), Consultative
Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP), and UNDP. The ABC
representative outlined five key challenges to improving the
business environment in the region: job creation, pluralism,
education, anti-corruption, and peace. The ABC is
undertaking initiatives to address some of these, including
the creation of country-specific National Competitiveness
Councils and a G8-BMENA Investment Task Force. The ABC
representative complained that the vision and mission of the
Forum for the Future was unclear to business and asked for
greater clarity on how the Forum would address issues of
interest to the private sector.
¶8. (U) The IFC outlined progress in setting up the Private
Enterprise Partnership (PEP MENA), including nine country
offices and 59 projects. The OECD reported on the two rounds
of Working Group meetings held in several sectors and plans
for a Ministerial meeting on investment to be held in Jordan
in 2006. UNDP plans to hold a meeting in Egypt in 2006 to
reach conclusions on its series of workshops and seminars
held on governance issues since 2003. EB PDAS Greenwood
expressed USG support for these initiatives, noting MEPI
funding of PEP MENA and consideration of funding for CGAP.
He explained the USG's strong interest in promoting SMEs in
the region, which is why we are pressing for creation of the
Fund for the Future. Finally, Greenwood stressed the need to
explore ways for government officials to interact with the
business community regarding these initiatives, pointing out
that it is the private sector that will ultimately create new
jobs.
-------------------------------
Civil Society Thematic Meetings
-------------------------------
¶9. (U) Civil Society representatives reported on the results
of four thematic meetings held under the BMENA umbrella over
the past year: Women's Empowerment, Transparency, Human
Rights, and Rule of Law. The October meeting on Women's
Empowerment in Manama identified 22 specific areas for
potential action to strengthen the status of women as equal
partners, many of which will constitute the agenda for a
follow-up meeting in 2006. The Transparency representative
noted the need for a working group to study how corruption is
preventing countries from reaching the UN,s Millennium
Challenge goals. She also reported on the transparency
meeting's call for the creation of a foundation to support
civil society activities as well as establishing an NGO
tasked with coordinating follow-up by civil society on
anti-corruption issues.
¶10. (U) The Human Rights representative noted that one
individual (Bahraini activist Abdul Hadi Al Khawaja) had been
prevented from attending the human rights thematic meeting
and pointed out that this had a negative impact on the
credibility of the BMENA process. Following this
intervention, the Bahraini chair responded that participants
in the thematic meetings were supposed to represent
organizations and large numbers of people, not just
themselves, which was the case of the individual in question.
The Human Rights rep reviewed priorities that emerged from
the thematic meeting: reforming legislation on the
registration and operation of NGOs, obstacles to freedom of
expression and assembly, and an end to emergency laws and
other extraordinary legislation. The Human Rights meeting
had recommended creating networks of NGOs to monitor and
report on these priority issues and financing public
information campaigns in support of human rights issues.
¶11. (U) The Rule of Law (ROL) representative reported that
its September meeting in Jordan had operated from the basis
that civil society was interested in dialogue and not
confrontation to resolve issues, but needed the freedom to
operate, which is often not the case around the region. The
ROL thematic meeting made specific recommendations on
improving NGOs' ability to register and operate without
administrative or judicial review. It also stressed the
importance of judicial independence and called for the end of
extraordinary courts and the simplification of rules and
procedures in the judicial system.
-----------------------------
Democracy Assistance Dialogue
-----------------------------
¶12. (U) Interventions by government and civil society
coordinators of the Democracy Assistance Dialogue (DAD) from
Italy, Turkey, and Yemen all stressed the tremendous progress
made since the DAD's launch at the Rabat Forum for the Future
last year. The new spirit of cooperation and dialogue
between government and civil society represents a true
watershed for the BMENA region. The Turkish reps reported on
efforts in support of women's empowerment and plans to hold
the next meeting in 2006 with specific emphasis on gender
equality. Italian NGO President Emma Bonino described the
platform for action developed at the September meeting in
Rabat, which should form the basis for further
government-civil society cooperation.
¶13. (U) Several civil society representatives took the floor
and echoed their satisfaction with the improved nature of
cooperation with governments in the year since the DAD was
launched. They all stressed concerns, however, about the
lack of a mechanism to ensure follow-up on recommendations
coming out of meetings with civil society. Almost all of the
civil society and government reps during this session praised
the creation of the Foundation for the Future as providing
civil society with the financial ability to play its full
role in the political process.
-------------------------
Foundation for the Future
-------------------------
¶14. (U) NEA DAS Carpenter opened a session on the
establishment of the Foundation for the Future and the Fund
for the Future, both of which were scheduled to be formally
announced by Secretary Rice the following day on the margins
of the Ministerial. The Foundation will be an international,
not-for-profit institution promoting freedom and democracy in
the broader Middle East by issuing grants to NGOs, civil
society organizations, individuals, and academic
institutions. The Fund will provide equity to
small-to-medium sized enterprises to support entrepreneurship
and create jobs. A Draft Charter of Principles shaping the
establishment of the Foundation was distributed for
discussion, with the hope that more governments would commit
to be partners in this project.
¶15. (U) A Kuwaiti government representative raised a
question that was of interest and concern to other delegates;
namely, with governments being called on to finance the
Foundation, yet civil society organizations running its
operations, what provisions would be put in place to ensure
that those organizations do not undermine their own
governments? The Egyptian delegation also noted that many
countries have regulations on the funding of civil society
groups, which would need to be reflected in the final
agreement. DAS Carpenter closed the session by stating that
the Foundation would be a completely independent organization
with an independent board. He added that the USG was
committed to work together with governments from the region
and elsewhere and civil society organizations to jointly
develop a mechanism to support the growth of civil society in
the region.
MONROE