AMMAN, 15 May 2004 — The second consecutive conference of the Davos-based World Economic Forum (WEF) kicks off on Jordan’s side of the Dead Sea today with the participation of more than 1,300 prominent political, business and civil leaders, including six heads of state and 30 ministers.
Held under the theme “Facing the Real Challenges: Partnering for Change, Peace and Development”, the WEF meeting is expected to focus discussion on Middle East reforms as sought, with different visions, by the United States and the European Union, as well as on Iraq’s reconstruction and enhancing the Arab world’s competitiveness, delegates said. They pointed out that the three-day conference derived “special importance from the imminent handover of power in Iraq” and from its coming ahead of the summit of the G-8 nations in June, when leaders of the world’s biggest powers are scheduled to consider ways for spurring reform in the Middle East.
During a joint press conference with Jordan’s King Abdallah at the White House on May 6, US President George W. Bush labeled the WEF conference in Jordan as “another important milestone on the Middle East journey to greater openness and opportunity and liberty”.
“We will look to the results of your World Economic Forum as a guide for future actions,” he told King Abdallah.
The US delegation will be led by Trade Representative Bob Zoellick, but Secretary of State Colin Powell will be there presumably for talks on the conference’s sidelines with Israeli and Palestinian officials with a view to reinvigorating peace negotiations between the two sides.
“The meeting comes at what is generally perceived as a key moment for the region, with a number of potentially crucial events taking place together,” said Professor Klaus Schwab, executive chairman and founder of the WEF. “The upcoming G-8 summit and the handover of power in Iraq are among these, throwing up huge challenges but also huge opportunities. We are proud of our close cooperation with many Arab leaders and we hope very much that the conclusions of our meeting will feed into the Arab League summit of May 22,” he added.
This viewpoint appeared to be shared by the Jordanian Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Bassem Awadallah, who attributed the importance of the meeting to “the fact that it is being held during very difficult times in the region.”