Qatar Conference on Democracy and Free Trade is held this year under circumstances that differ from those prevailing in the Middle East region since this forum was regularly convened. A follower of the developments that took place in the period between the last conference and your 4th meeting in Doha today can observe a number of major changes that are not without significant implications for the future of democracy in the region.

      Last year, the conference was held when Iraq was just going through the first days of its invasion. A year has passed on its occupation which marked a turning point that requires that its citizens discard narrow allegiances and seriously seek to build a democratic future that presents useful examples in reform and advancement.

Honourable Audience,

      One of our strategic constants is to defend the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state that would regain all their legitimate rights and protect them from the arrogance and savagery of the Israeli practices.

      The failure to solve the Palestinian question has generated in our region cumulative anger that no one can overlook. That was confirmed of late by the feelings of frustration when the United States vetoed a draft resolution by the Security Council that was aimed at condemning Israel’s barbaric crime of assassinating Shaikh Ahmed Yassin.

      However, honesty obliges us to stress that the roots of wrath in our region do not spring from the Palestinian question alone; they go deeper and further, and are due to problems of our own that have nothing to do with the outside world; problems that we allowed to pile up unremedied and amass unchecked.

      For many years, there has prevailed an argument that excessively uses what the others do as an excuse to justify the tardiness to reform and make excuses for not catching up with the march of progress. At times , it would be claimed that we remained backward because of the Ottoman domination. At others, it was said that Western colonization and its effects on us were responsible for our present state, or that reform has to wait until a peaceful settlement of the conflict with Israel is reached.

      I think that it has become necessary to make an extensive revision in this respect. Political settlement and reform are not two options from which we have to choose, but are two priorities for which we have to work diligently and honestly, provided that none of them should be linked with the other, particularly as other countries and societies have suffered as we did from colonization, subordination and protectorate status, yet they reformed themselves and set out steadily towards modernity and the rule of institutions.

      Wide horizons seem open today for the Arab countries by which they could prove that, despite past complications, they are capable of reforming themselves, and proceeding to establish their own suitable democratic model and demonstrate to the world that their efforts are not less than those of countries like Malaysia, India and Singapore which had suffered pains of the past but rose above them, putting them behind their backs, and hence developed and prospered economically and politically.

Honourable Audience,

      Our country is constantly guided by aspects of its Arab and Islamic heritage which exalt the values of progress and modernization, and at the same time interacts with the contributions of human thought and heritage, specially since, Qatar over the last years has gone a long way on the road towards promoting popular participation, which was embodied by the popular referendum last April on the draft permanent constitution, the articles of which guarantee rights, protect freedoms, build the state of institutions and the rule of law and pave the way shortly for holding parliamentary elections by which the citizens participate in setting up an advisory council that would assist in upgrading public work.

      This has reinforced our country’s conviction that the talk about reforms currently in circulation confirms our firm belief that our region is in need of witnessing a new era where the peoples are prepared for enlightened participation and sincere shouldering of responsibility.

Honourable Audience,

      The calls for reform coming from abroad need a pause and reflection by the people of our region especially as what is put forward confirms the importance and centrality of this region in the world.

      When considering what is put forward by others, we demand that our thinking should not be dominated by suspicion; nor should eagerness prevail over our positions. Our approach should be a balanced one which allows openness to the ideas presented by others. They should be carefully studied so that they are accepted with confidence or rejected on the basis of reasoning rather than imitation, and thinking rather than disaffection, and above all to distinguish between intentions and objectives. If these objectives are good –as we hope- then what was put forward must be treated tolerantly open mindedly. This requires a bigger role on the part of Arab citizens who would be able, through their responsible participation in decision-making, to help their countries avert the threats they face, and ensure that their efforts are concerted and their conferences are held at high levels without being postponed or obstructed.

Honourable Audience,

      For years, loud voices have been coming out from the corners of our region trying to press on the world a certain concept on the relation between democracy, security and peace, claiming that if popular participation is broadened in this area, it would only result in bringing in those who would endanger peace and put an end to security.

      Yet what is nearer to reality is that the adoption of reforms has always been the right way to stability and the sound approach to raise the ceiling of the aspirations of the people and homelands. The broader the participation is, the more is the sense of responsibility of the citizens, and the deeper their awareness of belonging and dedication to their homelands, which are in our region aspiring to a better future and the assumption of the rightful status.

Honourable Audience,

      I welcome you in Doha and wish you all success.

May the peace, the mercy and blessings of God be upon you.