The international guests of honor this year will include some current Heads of State and Government. The Forum will also feature other distinguished opinion leaders, eminent political thinkers, decision – makers and members of parliament, renowned businessmen, academics, media figures and international organizations. These participants will contribute to a free, learned and stimulating debate on each of the many topics on the Forum's agenda, with a focus on the Arab Spring, the global financial and economic crisis, International Cooperation, Global Economy, Development, Human Rights and Digital Media.
The 13th Doha Forum will be held at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in the State of Qatar from 20-22 May, 2013. It will be attended by more than 600 participants representing over 80 countries and organizations.
NewsRumaihi: Doha Forum to be Held Amid Important Political Changes in the Region
Qatar News Agency
17 May 2014
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HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will patronize on Monday the opening ceremony of the Doha Forum on Democracy, Development and Free Trade, hosted by the State of Qatar for the eleventh time. In coincidence with the Doha Forum, Enriching the Middle East''s Economic Future Conference will be launched to review a host of issues related to energy, water security, the future of peace in the region, economy and trade, development and reform, enriching of the economic future through sport and media and its moral responsibility. HE the Assistant Foreign Minister For Follow Up Affairs and Chairman of the Conferences'' Permanent Committee Mohammed bin Abdullah Rumaihi said the new in this Forum is that it is being held amid big political changes in the region which stress the reform calls that the Forum touched on in its previous sessions and the adoption of development as a basis for security, political and social security in the region specially human development.
In an exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) on the occasion of the Doha Forum on Democracy, Development and Free Trade and the Enriching the Middle East's Economic Future Conference, HE the Assistant Foreign Minister For Follow Up Affairs and Chairman of the Conferences' Permanent Committee drew the attention to a number of challenges facing the Arab states and the international community on how to deal with the current situation and the geopolitical change taking place in the region and its effects on the regional and international stability.
He noted that this year's Forum will address the way of dealing with new political powers in the region and the future shape of economic and social development, adding that other issues to be discussed will include the role of youth in future development, means of providing jobs and social stability during the post-revolutions period and whether such revolutions will continue for long periods of time or that the situation will end and matters will stabilize within a short period of time as a result of the awareness of the people who are controlling the situation.
HE Al-Rumaihi added that the conferees will also discuss the effectiveness of the media and its responsibility in carrying the image, the agitating and creation of events as well as the responsibility of satellite channels and electronic media as a modern means of communication, in addition to the securing of the economic future, security and stability in the region, the role of art in the promotion of peace, the role of sport in the support of the infrastructure in the region as well as the axis of free trade and trade agencies which is one of the areas which the Forum addresses continually.
In response to a question on calls for reform, development and democracy, which remained the focus of the Forum at its previous sessions, HE Al Rumaihi said if governments had listened attentively, read what had been written and listened to the participants during the sessions, they would have let us avoid what is happening now.
He noted in a related context that in 2007 and 2008 there was talk during the forum on reform in the region, the role of the youth and the regional and international powers in reform opportunities and what option is better for them with regard to their demands and whether it was better for governments to make reform, rather than entering in a cycle of chaos that no one can expect its results, control its track or its possible consequences of significant losses for the development process.
HE the Assistant Foreign Minister for Follow Up Affairs said in his interview with QNA that the Doha Forum on Development, Democracy and Free Trade is abiding by its commitment to the line it has set since 2005 for the coverage of all important topics in specific areas including the regional and international situation at the strategic level and the future of economy, trade, reform and democracy.
On the organizers and the participants, HE Mr. Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi said the Permanent Committee for Organizing Conferences, in cooperation with for Middle Eastern Studies Centre at the University of Los Angeles is organizes this event annually, explaining that the Centre is organizing the Enriching the Middle East's Economic Future Conference, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is organizing the political side of the Conference.
He explained that a number of leaders and Heads of State and Government, ministers, parliamentarians, party leaders, academics, civil society organizations and independent participants and media men for the five continents will take part in the conference.
He expected that the Conference will be attended by 600 persons with 100 participants in each specialization.
HE Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi said HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani will open the Forum, after a welcome speech by HE the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al-Thani, adding that speeches by guests, including HRH Henry, The Grand Duke of Luxembourg will follow .