Opening speech By His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa AL-THANI Emir of the State of Qatar At the Doha Forum XII 20 May 2012

In the name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate Excellencies and Highnesses, Distinguished Audience,
Welcome to the State of Qatar, I hope you're having a pleasant stay. I would like on the occasion of the twelfth edition of the Doha Forum to pay tribute to the importance of this forum, the discussions it hosts and the recommendations it presents. This year's edition comes at a crucial and critical time in our Arab nation's history. Many of the events taking place in our region, and in various parts of the world, were topics listed on the agendas of the previous editions of this Forum, and I recall, among other things, that since the fourth forum in 2004, and over successive editions, the Forum has been urging those who were delaying reforms in our region to proceed with them. We were certainly not alone in criticizing, advocating and advising, and had such appeals found sympathetic ears the history of the region may have taken different paths over the past year.

 Ladies and Gentlemen, The Arab freedom uprisings were preceded by manifestations of complete rigidity, paralyzed policies and wide public anger. Some ignored these indicators and were taken aback by the outburst of revolutions that heralded a historic and unprecedented transformation showing that the Arab peoples are shaking off the long period of indolence and claiming back a role in the furtherance of human civilization. The Arab revolutions did or are about to achieve victory, but precious innocent blood was shed, and still is, for some regimes still oppose immediate reform.

 Distinguished audience, Arab peoples revolted so the Arab Man could recover his freedom and dignity, but they will also be the support the regional relations system will be built on over the coming years. For the Arab citizen has longed for regional integration but was powerless to attain that goal when he was not in control of his destiny. Today we believe that the Arab integration will no longer be a mere hope of the people ignored by the rulers since governments will be committed to it under the pressure of a public opinion. Just as Arab public opinion claims freedom for the citizens, so it does for the nations. Palestine is the last Arab homeland that has been deprived of its freedom to-date, and it's time it gets it. In this regard, one should assimilate the deep significance of the great concern shown by the Arab peoples towards the Palestinian cause despite their preoccupation with Arab Spring-driven instability at home. That's why I think it is wrong to leave the Palestinian issue hanging on the political and international agendas, for the will of the Arab peoples will not allow it anymore, and I call on Israel to take a positive step towards peace and coexistence.

I also call from this forum for the Arab Spring to be matched by a Just Peace in the Middle East Spring. The Arab peoples will never forget Palestine, just as we do not forget the thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, nor Gaza, the besieged by Israel and others. Therefore, Israel should seize the opportunity to commit to the rules of international legitimacy, to recognize the legitimate rights of the Arab Palestinian people, to withdraw from the Syrian Golan and Lebanese Shebaa Farms, and to refrain from practices that create de facto situations hindering the future achievement of a just peace, such as building settlements and the Judaization of Jerusalem. Otherwise it will miss a chance for peace with the peoples, for the coming Arab generation that crafted the revolutions, rejected and challenged the injustice of their kin will even less suffer the oppression of strangers. Can anybody believe that this generation would accept an on-going colonial issue in its homeland? This generation is complexes-free and does not deem an occupier-occupied situation acceptable, and does not bow, as the world does, to Israel's monopoly of force and nuclear and other weapons in our region.

It's also a generation willing to develop their country and to live in peace, prosperity, equality and in parity with other nations. And we must exploit this opportunity. Here we must pause and reflect upon a major political development that took place a few days ago on the Israeli political scene, where the Israeli Prime Minister has managed to gather the largest and strongest government coalition in Israel's history. After Kadima party rallied the government, the Prime Minister can today boast the support of 94 deputies out of 120, thus denying himself the longtime Israeli argument of the governmental coalitions' chronic frailness that prevents any flexibility or concessions. If this coalition's goal is not to better resist post-election U.S. pressure, we say in good faith that if there is will for peace the Israeli Prime Minister should fear no opposition, and we ask for a bold step, long overdue, on the path towards a peace based on the cessation of settlement, the borders of 1967 and the two-state solution. Israel cannot rely anymore on the friendship of rulers that have been overthrown by the Arab Spring revolutions, nor should it count on the support of those who are against their own people and public opinion, for in this case it will soon find itself with no friends at all.

 Ladies and Gentlemen, The revival of popular will in our region is not limited to the repossession by the citizen of his political rights, but also his economic and social rights. Privation was one of the most important causes that sparked the Arab Spring revolutions. And it'll soon dawn to us that, as in third world countries, it's impossible to have a transition to democracy in the Arabic countries without development policies, gap bridging between rich and poor, and the creation of appropriate economic conditions for the expansion of the middle class.

 I would like here to stress the following challenges to the change process. First, there are lots of complicated economic problems that either require time-consuming processing, either could not be solved at once before long, either are impossible to solve at once, such as economic growth decrease, high unemployment rate and low productivity. We must inform the people about those difficulties in full transparency, in order for them to tell what can be processed immediately from what will take more time, and what are the priorities. Second, political freedom, which is the foundation of democracy, does not lead to economic justice if not accompanied by social and humanitarian development as well as fair social policies.

 Third, the utmost importance should be placed on solving the issue of unemployment and on the re-evaluation of the educational systems so to match the needs of the labor market. Unemployment is a major factor in undermining social stability, for not only does it deprive the worker of his income, it also negatively affects his self-esteem, which leads to frustration, anger or rebellion. In order to protect the gains of these revolutions, priority should be given to addressing this problem. Fourth: The ultimate goal should be sustainable development, which involves achieving its economic, social, human and environmental general objectives. I would like through your forum to underscore the challenges facing the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals in developing countries, as the achievement of most of these goals by the 2015 deadline has become out of reach in the poorest countries. This applies to the objectives related to providing sanitation, provisioning drinking water, ensuring primary education for all, protecting biodiversity, reducing mortality rate among under-five children, empowering women and reducing the number of undernourished people in the world. The food and economic crisis that affected the world recently played a major role in worsening the situation. Food shortage has deepened poverty in the poorest countries, and the economic crisis has led to a decline in direct investment and exports. Even public aid to these countries, which resisted during the great economic downturn, has dropped in 2011.

This phenomenon is disturbing, especially if the decline persists. The fear of austerity policies implemented by most of the donor countries has led to reduced aid to developing countries, though with a lag. I would like in this regard to emphasize that the State of Qatar has doubled its government aid in 2011 compared to 2010, reaching $ 730 million. Estimates for public and private aid for this year are about $ 990 million, which does not include aid provided by some government agencies. We urge all donor countries to commit to the ratio recommended by the United Nations of an aid equal to 7 per thousand of their national gross income. The expected delay in achieving the Millennium Development Goals beyond 2015 should not deter us from achieving it later, and we should at once set additional development goals that take into account the recent events and changes as well as the wide disparities between individuals within the same country. The determination to attain the Millennium Development Goals and to improve them continuously will help achieving peace and prosperity for all.

 Distinguished audience, The Doha Forum, which has been convening on a regular basis for a second decade now, will remain a platform where opinions about events in the region and the world are exchanged, where ideas about the future are presented, and where proposals that help promoting democracy, development and free trade are made. In conclusion, I wish you again a pleasant stay among your brothers and friends in Qatar and success for your forum.

 May peace and God's mercy and blessings be upon you.

Guyana-Dubai trade ties in focus

Posted July 9th, 2012

by Joumana Saad 

Mr. Atiq Juma Nasib, Senior Director, Commercial Services Sector, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry received HE Ambassador George Hallaq, Minister of State and Presidential Envoy of the Republic of Guyana, and his business delegation seeking stronger trade ties with Dubai businesses, at the Chamber head office on Monday.

During the meeting, Ambassador Hallaq informed about his country’s decision to open soon a commercial representative office in Dubai representing Guyana as well as the Caribbean Community which he said will help attract Dubai investors to his country and to highlight Dubai’s investment potential to the Guyana and Caribbean business community.

Atiq Juma Nasib of Dubai Chamber (right) receives George Hallaq, Presidential Envoy of the Republic of Guyana.

Ambassador Hallaq invited Dubai Chamber to participate in the Caribbean-Gulf Forum which will be held in Guyana in November and will provide an ideal platform for UAE businesses to discuss bilateral cooperation with their Caribbean counterparts and to make their presence felt in the region.

He highlighted the investment potential offered by his country’s free market, trade and infrastructure especially in the management of ports and airports, and tourism and real estate sectors.

Ambassador Hallaq further stressed that his country, which enjoys a strategic location in the Caribbean region, has vast natural resources including aluminium, diamonds, uranium, precious stones and timber as 60% of the Amazonian forest is present in Guyana. He added that his country is very attractive for investors due to its low taxes, good relations with the Western countries as well as its ability to attract millions of tourists annually.

He also lauded Dubai Chamber’s role in supporting the business community and expressed his country’s desire to learn from Dubai’s competitive business environment as he said that the emirate enjoys a strong business-savvy reputation in the international market and called for enhanced trade ties between the two countries.

On his part, Mr. Atiq Juma Nasib, Senior Director, Commercial Services Sector, Dubai Chamber, welcomed the decision of opening a Guyana commercial representative office in Dubai which he said will go a long way in cementing bilateral ties between the two countries as well as Dubai’s relationship with the Caribbean Community.

Mr. Nasib informed the delegation about Dubai’ strategic role as a major re-export destination in the region offering world-class trading, logistics and financial services to multinational investors working and living peacefully in the emirate.

He also assured the visitors of Dubai Chamber’s assistance in setting up businesses for Guyana as well as the members of the Caribbean Community and also highlighted the Chamber’s latest initiative of reaching out to emerging markets of the world which includes Guyana as well, he said.

Dubai’s non-oil trade with Guyana reached AED 7.4 million in the first five months of 2012 as there is ample scope for both the sides to enhance their trade cooperation by making good use of Dubai’s strategic location as an East meets West destination as well as a gateway to the region.

http://www.smeadvisor.com/2012...trade-ties-in-focus/

By Ray Chickrie

Caribbean News Now contributor

DUBAI, UAE -- In a bold move to solicit Middle East investment and especially from Gulf countries, Guyana will open a trade mission in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and also host the first Caribbean-Gulf Forum in November.

This was disclosed when George Hallaq, Guyana’s Middle East envoy and his business delegation met on Monday with Atiq Juma Nasib, senior director, Commercial Services Sector, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
They discussed ways of strengthening trade between Guyana and the UAE. During the meeting, Hallaq said that Guyana will open soon a commercial representative office in Dubai representing Guyana as well as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which he said will help attract Dubai investors to Guyana and to highlight Dubai's investment potential to the Guyana and Caribbean business community.

He invited the Dubai Chamber to participate in the first ever Caribbean-Gulf Forum, which will be held in Guyana in November 2012 and will provide an ideal platform for UAE businesses to discuss bilateral cooperation with their Caribbean counterparts and to make their presence felt in the region.
Hallaq highlighted the investment potential offered by his country's free market, trade and infrastructure, especially in the management of ports and airports, and tourism and real estate sectors.

Nasib welcomed the decision to open a Guyana commercial representative office in Dubai, which he said will go a long way in cementing bilateral ties between the two countries, as well as Dubai's relationship with CARICOM.
Nasib assured the visitors of the Dubai Chamber's assistance in setting up businesses for Guyana as well as the members of the Caribbean Community and also highlighted the Chamber's latest initiative of reaching out to emerging markets of the world that includes Guyana as well, he said.

According to the Emirates News Agency, Dubai's non-oil trade with Guyana reached AED 7.4 million in the first five months of 2012, and there is ample scope for both sides to enhance their trade cooperation. And this could possibly increase with Guyana’s President Donald Ramotar’s new thrust to build institutions that will foster stronger economic ties with the Arab Gulf -- a trade mission in Dubai, the opening of an embassy in Kuwait, the appointment of honourary consuls between Guyana and Saudi Arabia and the appointment of Dr Odeen Ishmael to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and to other Gulf states soon.

http://www.caribbeannewsnow.co...-in-Dubai-11678.html