Conference Reports

The following reports are based on information supplied by the sponsoring organizations. Editorial changes were made to meet formatting and space requirements.

Memory, Forgiveness and Reconciliation
The Catholic University of America and the University of Ulster
Belfast, Northern Ireland, UNITED KINGDOM: April 22-29, 1999

This international workshop addressed the question of how communities and nations manage violence, and the potential for violence, as they attempt to come to terms with their histories through memory. The gathering stems from a series of talks and discussions in 1997-98 at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington, DC that dealt with similar themes. Ten participants came from Eastern Europe, India, Ireland, the Middle East, and the US. Nobel Prize-winner John Hume, leader of the Social Democratic and Labor Party in Northern Ireland, was also in attendance. The workshop was hosted by the Initiative on Conflict Resolution and Ethnicity (INCORE) at the University of Ulster.

The participants examined the role memory has played in nurturing and shaping conflict and the way in which historical memory and the memory of conflict can be addressed, with special emphasis on forgiveness – or more broadly, "restorative" vs. "retributive" justice – in the practice of reconciliation. Indigenous approaches to conflict resolution were also examined.

Carolyn Nordstrom, an anthropologist at the University of Notre Dame, related how the use of local traditions played a role in dealing with conflict in Mozam-bique. The civil war there claimed the lives of a million people out of a population of 15 million yet, despite the bitterness that war engendered, the peace accords signed in 1992 have been successful in maintaining peace. Rather than rely on western models, historical memory and local rituals were drawn upon to create "cultures of peace" that would treat what was considered to be the illness of violence.

Other papers included "Victimization and Memory: Rituals of Forgiveness and Reconciliation" by George Irani of Washington College, Maryland; "Forgiveness and Politics – Dangerous Liaisons" by Idith Zertal of the Israel Institute of Democracy in Jerusalem; and "Ever Since Hiroshima: The Role of Historical Memory in the Nuclear Age" by Avner Cohen, recently a senior fellow at USIP.

Funding for the workshop was provided by the United States Institute for Peace and the Earhart Foundation of Ann Arbor, Michigan. An edited volume based on the presentations will be published.

For additional information, contact Prof. George Irani, 850 N. Randolph St., #917, Arlington, VA 22203, USA; phone/fax (1-703) 465-1143; e-mail george.irani@cwix.com.

A Solar Bridge for Peace Building
Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME)
Ramallah: March 14, 1999

Over 100 participants – Palestinian, Israeli, Jordanian, Egyptian and international – attended this full-day symposium held in Ramallah. The event detailed the findings of a solar energy feasibility study for a unique pilot project involving four isolated villages: Arab-Ka’abneh (Palestinian), Kibbutz Samar (Israeli), Qatar (Jordanian) and New Bassaisa (Egyptian). The workshop was held under the auspices of the Palestinian Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs, with the support of UNESCO.

The event coincided with Arab Ka’abneh – the Palestinian pilot village – receiving electricity for the first time that morning through a solar power energy plant donated by the Greenstar Foundation, an American NGO. The village was chosen as a result of the feasibility study undertaken by the Friends of the Earth Middle East program.

The Solar bridge project is designed to help communities that suffer from a lack of water resources, from no power for their schools and clinics, and from unreliable or unsustainable energy in their homes develop alternative power sources in tune with nature. This solar bridge would consist of photovoltaic (PV) power systems that together would provide a total peak power of up to 1,000 kWp.

The project objectives are: (1) to promote alternative development through the use of clean energy at selected sites in the Middle East; (2) to provide data for additional research on renewable energy; (3) to serve as a model for future PV development in the Middle East; and (4) to foster cooperation and communication between the four isolated communities through building their solar systems together.

As part of the feasibility study, local solar experts drafted designs of photovoltaic (PV) power systems for each of the four villages. Experts further analyzed the scientific, economic, social and environmental merits of the different systems comprising the solar bridge.

The symposium brought together representatives from the villages who described their development needs and how renewable energy could improve their lives. These were followed by scientific presentations of the results of the feasibility study and discussions as to further steps. The European Community expressed interest in the further implementation of the program both for its scientific and peace building aspects. However, the lack of political will of all the governments in the region to seriously develop renewable energy, despite the abundance of sunshine, was mentioned repeatedly.

A copy of the scientific papers presented is available from FoEME for US$50 and a summary report for US$10 plus postage. The feasibility study and symposium were undertaken with the generous support of the Joyce Mertz Gilmore Foundation, USA.

For additional information, please contact Ms. Alona Bachi, Friends of the Earth Middle East, P.O.Box 55302, E. Jerusalem, ISRAEL 97400; phone (972-2) 532-4667; fax (972-2)532-4692; e-mail info@foeme.org; website http://www.foeme.org.

First Colloquium on the Development of Election Administration in Yemen
Supreme Elections Committee (SEC) and the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES)
Sana’a, YEMEN: March 15-18, 1999

This historic Colloquium brought together a diverse group of sixty leading Yemenis for intensive discussions on the organization of Yemen’s elections; Yemen boasts the only multiparty system on the Arabian peninsula. The event was organized by the Supreme Elections Committee (SEC) with support from the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES). The SEC is the only permanent election commission in the Arab world.

Participants included SEC members (from the current, 1993 and 1997 commissions), representatives from six major political parties, Parliament, civil society, relevant government ministries, and some of Yemen’s most prominent women. Conferees met for two days of working group sessions, which were closed to the media to stimulate free discussion, on the topics of voter education and awareness; the election system; voter registration; election day procedures and the vote count; the independence and neutrality of the SEC; and election administration and training.

Working group discussions were facilitated by eleven distinguished international moderators, including five moderators from the Arab world. Moderators from the Palestinian autonomous areas, Lebanon, Morocco, Egypt and Jordan shared their perspectives on elections and political liberalization in what was a unique and fruitful cross-regional dialogue.

By the close of the conference, participants had adopted more than one hundred recommendations for improvements to the election process; all but one were agreed to by unanimous consent.

Discussions were notably open and constructive. Participants remarked that the event was a unique opportunity for debate on these issues, in which a wide variety of perspectives could be expressed and considered thoroughly. A top Yemeni Socialist Party official stated that, in his view, the Colloquium was the first such public opportunity for his party since the Yemeni civil war of 1994. Another participant remarked, "This event gave me hope that the process is not fixed and rigid, with no chance for outside input. It indicated to me that there is a role for me to play and a way for me to express my ideas to improve elections in our country; I left with a renewed sense of optimism."

The Colloquium was funded by the British Government, the United Nations Development Programme, and the governments of Japan and Canada (via Elections Canada).

For additional information, contact Ms. Amy Hawthorne, Middle East Program Officer, International Foundation for Election Systems, 1101 15th Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington, DC 20005, USA; phone (1-202)828-8507; fax (1-202)452-0804; e-mail Amy@ifes.org; website http://www.ifes.org.

Population Challenges in the Middle East & North Africa: Towards the Twenty First Century
Economic Research Forum for the Arab Countries, Iran and Turkey (ERF)
Cairo, EGYPT: November 2-4, 1998

This conference brought together about 70 participants from the Middle East, Europe and the US to discuss a series of papers covering the link between demographic dynamics and economic development in the MENA region. The meeting highlighted the multi-disciplinary orientation of current research on such issues – particularly of a policy-relevant nature – as economists, demographers, sociologists and other social scientists attended.

Three main topics were addressed: globalization and its impact on the interrelationship between demographic transition and economic growth; the implications for labor markets of population changes; and the quality of human capital in terms of education and labor skills.

Addressing the first issue, Jalaleddin Jalali of the World Bank and Farzaneh Roudi of the Population Reference Bureau in New York presented a paper entitled "Globalization and Unemployment in MENA." In it, they discussed how some MENA policy makers remain hesitant about adopting policies that would enhance their economies’ integration into the global economy because of concerns about the potential for increased unemployment in the early stages of economic liberalization due to downsizing or closing inefficient firms.

Such concerns are well placed given the fact that MENA has the highest unemployment rate of all geographical regions. Evidence indicates, however, that in a stable macro-economic environment, the net employment effect of liberalization policies is positive. On the other hand, high fertility rates will expand the region’s labor force at an average annual rate of 2.7 percent a year in the next 15 years. Rough calculations indicate that the region’s output will have to grow by at least 4 percent a year for the already high unemployment rates not to rise further.

Other papers looked at such topics as the demography of the Arab region, population issues in Iran, the female labor supply in Egypt, migrant remittances, and fertility and income issues in Turkey.

The principal message of the conference was that there is now a demographic window of opportunity in the MENA region due to a noticeable decline in fertility, but that deriving benefits from this is dependent on the policies that the different countries in the region adopt. The participants also highlighted the importance of finding ways for the research presented to feed into decision-making processes, particularly by continuing to find ways to bring researchers and policy makers together at such events.

For additional information, contact Dr. Hana’ Al-Sagban, Economic Research Forum, 7 Boulos Hanna Street, Dokki, Cairo, EGYPT; phone (20-2)337-0810; fax (20-2)361-6042; e-mail erf@idsc.gov.eg; websitehttp://www.erf.org.eg/html/conf_population.html.

The West and the Gulf
Wilton Park
West Sussex, UNITED KINGDOM: November 2-6, 1998

Fifty analysts, government figures, academics, journalists, NGO representatives and others from the Middle East, Europe and the US attended this conference to discuss the possibilities for enhancing stability and security in the Gulf region.

Iraq is perceived to be a continuing threat to neighboring states in the region as shown by its cessation of cooperation with UNSCOM, which provoked a crisis with the UN and the use of force by the US and allied states. There is increasing concern in Arab countries, however, about the effects of economic sanctions on Iraqi civilians and the possibility that the sanctions will lead to Iraq’s fragmentation. As a result, some of these states are calling for an end to sanctions, or at least their amendment, and are prepared to countenance dialogue with Baghdad.

The West emphasizes the need to contain Iraq; however, some also advocate an amendment of the containment policy to concentrate upon restricting Iraqi military ambitions and await the collapse of the Iraqi regime, but would not preclude negotiations (similar to the Cold War effort against the Soviet Union).

The significant US role in the region will continue, and its policy of dual containment of Iraq and Iran remains in place. At the political level there has been some movement vis-à-vis Iran, but the US is looking for changes in Iranian actions on terrorism, weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and the peace process before any rapprochement can develop substantially. For many, this prospect appears unlikely.

Various proposals for dealing with the area’s problems are seen as fraught with difficulty given regional suspicions. While shared oil interests exist, there is also a need for sincere intentions to cooperate. Some argue that an accommodation between Iran and the West is an essential prerequisite, given the likely continued Western presence in the region, which may not be palatable in Tehran. Regardless, a long-term vision will likely be required to ensure regional stability since any regional security mechanism must be self-sustaining if the Gulf’s problems are to be resolved.

For additional information, contact Mrs. Heather Ingrey, Wilton Park Conferences, Wiston House, Steyning, West Sussex, BN44 3DZ, UNITED KINGDOM; phone (44-1903)815020; fax (44-1903)815931; e-mail wilton@wiltonpark.org.uk; website http://www.wiltonpark.org.uk/.

Multi-Party Elections in the Arab World: Controlled Contestation and Opposition Strategies
The Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University and the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Harvard University
Providence, Rhode Island, USA: October 2-3, 1998

This meeting brought together activists, electoral candidates, and scholars to examine the quality of national elections in the Middle East by focusing on factors other than whether polling day procedures were "free and fair." Twelve participants from Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Palestine, Yemen, Egypt, and Morocco attended along with an equal number from Britain, the United States, and Mexico. The sessions were conducted in both English and Arabic to facilitate the inclusion of new voices that are often excluded from English-only conferences.

Panels covered topics such as electoral engineering by regimes, economic constraints faced by political activists, the various strategies of opposition candidates, electoral laws, foreign monitoring missions, the usefulness of boycotts, and the role of a range of opposition groups, including Islamists and Leftists. An additional panel explored comparative experiences from Mexico and Central America, which the Middle Eastern participants said they found particularly interesting. Many of the participants shared their personal experiences as candidates, lawyers, and activists working toward increased political participation and free and fair electoral processes.

The format of the meeting was designed to facilitate open discussion among the participants, particularly concerning the strategies available for opposition groups seeking to compete in electoral processes and which of those were most productive. In one session, for example, participants disagreed on whether election boycotts were sometimes the best strategy for opposition groups. Several participants argued that boycotting could be important when participating might signal tacit acceptance of a manipulated process. In addition, boycotts may attract international attention, which might, in turn, increase the pressure on governments to allow for marginal improvements during the next round of polling. Other participants felt that boycotting only played into the hands of the governments by producing overwhelmingly pro-regime assemblies.

Excerpts from the conference papers were published in the Winter 1998 issue of Middle East Report (MERIP) magazine and several articles from the issue are available on the MERIP website at http://www.merip.com. A number of the papers will also appear next year in a volume edited by the conference organizers.

For additional information, contact Ms. Jillian Schwedler, Department of Politics, New York University, 715 Broadway, Room 413, New York, NY 10003, USA; e-mail jschwedler@aol.com or Professor Marsha Pripstein Posusney, Bryant College, Smithfield, Rhode Island, USA; e-mail marshapp@bryant.edu.

Privatization, Transnational Communication and Media
AUSACE
Cairo, EGYPT: September 7-10, 1998

Fifty scholars from the Middle East, Europe and the United States presented research during this third international conference of the Arab-US Association for Communication Educators (AUSCE). The conference featured researchers from Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and the Palestinian Authority, as well as from Egypt, England, Germany and the US.

Sessions focused on scholarship in communication and educational technology, women in communication, transnational media and terrorism, cultural communication and media, privatization and transnational communication.

The keynote speaker was Mr. Mohamed Safwat El Sherif, Minister of Information for Egypt. Addressing the conference theme of privatization, he urged that the trend toward private investment should be accompanied by respect for national traditions and heritage.

Privatization will require educational reforms, according to one reseacher, Jihad Fakhreddine of the Pan Arab Research Center in Dubai, UAE. He said education in Arab universities must be restructured "in order to meet the requirements of the market economy to come." One major need, he said, was development of "a full-fledged marketing department."

Economic reporting was stressed during professional workshops for journalists, sponsored by Georgia State University and the U.S. Information Service. Other workshop sessions covered ethics, photojournalism, writing news for print and broadcast, public relations, and magazine writing.

At the invitation of the information minister, conferees visited 6th October City and toured Egypt’s new Nilesat satellite television facilities, launched in April 1998. It was the first satellite in the Middle East to employ the new Digital Compression Technology. At 6th October they also toured film-making sets in Egypt’s new Media Production City.

Sponsors of the conference included the Egyptian Ministry of Information, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism, the American University in Cairo, The Adham Center for Television Journalism, Georgia State University’s Center for International Media Education, Transnational Broadcasting Studies Journal, Egyptian Radio and Television Union, the State Information Service, the Hanns-Seidel Foundation, Timegate Studios, and the U.S. Information Service.

The fourth annual AUSACE conference will be held October 26-29 in Beirut, and will be hosted by the Lebanese American University.

For additional information, contact Professor Leonard Ray Teel, Director, Center for International Media Education, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA; phone (1-404) 651-2697; fax (1- 404)377-8975; e-mail joulrt@panther.gsu.edu; website http://www.gsu.edu/~wwwcom/cime.