Forum for the Future

[LalaMimi]

Apparently there were protests against this forum, in Rabat earlier this week (or the weekend)- what do ex pats think?

HE Roland Mauch, German Ambassador to Morocco
“Morocco is pioneer in reforms in the Arab and Muslim World”

The Forum for the Future triggered fierce debates in the West as well as the Arab World. While some consider it an American initiative aiming to gain control over the Middle East, others believe it the G8 project to help necessary reforms take place in the region. Roland Mauch, German Ambassador to Morocco believes that the main purpose of the Forum for the Future is to set up a framework whereby Arab countries can get the support they need to carry out their own reforms.
As far as Morocco and Germany are concerned, he said, they are determined to strengthen their bilateral relations. Morocco Times had an interview with Roland Mauch, German Ambassador to Morocco.





HE Roland Mauch, German Ambassador to Morocco

MT: Morocco has been engaged in economic partnership with the European Union on many levels. The Kingdom has good relations with France, Spain, Britain and Germany. How do you evaluate the relations between Morocco and Germany in the last ten years, and how do you expect them to develop in the light of the Forum for the Future?




R.Mauch: First of all, the relations between the two countries in all fields have been without any complications. Both sides are interested in intensifying them. As far economy is concerned, there are great potentialities for investment in Morocco, and more trade opportunities between the two countries. However, the current situation of bilateral trade in particular fields does not reflect these potentialities.


Regarding the Forum for the Future, it is difficult to think of its outcome at the moment. I think it is just a start for all the Mediterranean countries. As you know, the partnership initiative covers countries from the Mediterranean to Afghanistan. I should say that with the kind of reforms initiated by the Moroccan government and HM King Mohammed VI, Morocco has a bright future. I can even say that Morocco is at the head of the Arab Muslim world in terms of reforms. I think this is one of the major reasons why Morocco has been honoured to host the first Forum for the Future.


MT: What do you expect to come out of this Forum taking into consideration the current situation in the Middle East?


R.Mauch: The current conflict in the Middle East, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the war in Iraq , is not a major subject to be discussed in this Forum. Certainly, you cannot make progress in any field without, at some stage, solving these conflicts. As far as I can see, after the Sharam El-Sheikh conference on Iraq and the ongoing process of the presidential and local elections in Palestine, the auspices under which this Forum is taking place seem to me quite favourable. I think that the process triggered by the Forum for the Future will create the platform for more initiatives that will tackle particular subjects, namely education. But, those conflicts are not at the heart of this Forum's debates.


MT: Since the election of the Bush Administration, whether in the first term or the second one, France and Germany have been in disagreement with the U.S. and Great Britain. Do you think that the results of this Forum will be beneficial for the G8, with their differences, and the Arab world?


R.Mauch: First of all, I want to draw your attention to the fact that there was dissent on very particular issues. But now, we are making a common effort. The basis of this effort is the G8 initiative and not the American one. I want to stress this because local press and mass media, whether here or in the Arab world, talk about the Forum initiative as if it were solely organized in accordance with the American vision for reforms. This is not correct. The initial papers and proposals made by the American side early this year have undergone some change. It is correct to say that in the process leading up to the G8 Summit, the Europeans - particularly my country and France - made some efforts to work over the papers with the Americans, and at least we achieved a result that was the Sea Island Summit. That really pointed to the future, since when you look at it more precisely, the initial initiative has been broken down into various small initiatives. In general, the majority of the member states involved in this process have found their interests reflected in this Forum.


MT: Does this mean that the German approach to the reforms in the Arab world is the same as the American one? Some say that the Americans rely on bombs to spread democracy, whereas Germany and the European Union rely on economic, political and cultural cooperation.


R.Mauch: I do not think so. I do not think so. There is not that dissent in methods, otherwise, we would not have agreed on a common paper in the Sea Island Summit. I think it is not correct to assume that the Americans are relying on bombs to spread democracy in the Arab world, whereas the Europeans are doing the opposite. This is not correct. Certainly, we tried to reach a common agreement with the Americans concerning Iraq; it was not an easy task. That's over; now we look to the future. There are approaches based on the Sea Island Summit papers. The American initiative proposed a kind of parallel clause established by the Europeans, such as economic policies with the Mediterranean countries or the Barcelona Process.


During the talks, a number of American partners had to learn about the Barcelona Process. They did not know very much about it. They had to know about the network of our association and cooperation agreements around the Mediterranean basin. Now, we have filled in these gaps and already have a solid basis. Let's build on it. This is the common basis that the G8 leaders agreed on in the Sea Island Summit. If you listened carefully a few days ago to what Colin Powell said, you will have got the same vision: “Let us go step by step to achieve what we have already achieved, for instance, in Morocco and some other countries.”


Some countries are still lagging behind for understandable reasons: population growth, economic difficulties or perception of threats from other countries, especially in South Asia, etc. We do not want to destabilize the region; on the contrary, we want the region to be stable and enjoy economic and social prosperity, and this can be achieved only through good education, economic development, combating poverty, reforming the status of women and human rights. Again, step by step, we can not change overnight. No country in the world can achieve such a thing. This is obvious. Even in Europe it has taken a long time to achieve what it has achieved so far. For example, look at my country. Sometimes discussions are harsh, very harsh about certain issues. The restructure of society is a very painful process. But only in an atmosphere of dialogue we can advance things and reach common conclusions about different issues. Therefore, the culture of dialogue is very important in any society. This is the philosophy behind this Forum.


MT: What will be the main contribution of Germany in the Forum for the Future?


R.Mauch: Our main contribution, with the G8, has so far been political, to push the process forward. Now we are in a stage of thinking of what we can specifically do. A number of countries, such as Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Morocco, Bahrain and Italy. have volunteered to host some initiatives. These are preparing papers on many issues like the micro-finance or civil society dialogue, etc. It is correct that Germany has not yet come forward with any particular idea. But I think my minister will propose some arrangements in professional training where Germany has experiences in many countries, including Morocco. The German technical support in the Moroccan programme “mise-à-niveau” of the economy is an evidence of Germany's commitment to collaborate with the Mediterranean countries. Here, an economic delegation of my country's Ministry of Economic Cooperation will visit Morocco to strengthen economic relations between the two countries.


MT: In the light of the critical political situation in the Middle East, do you think that the Arab masses will react positively to the G8's proposals, especially the need for educational change? Some are afraid that the G8 want to target the Islamic education.


R.Mauch: Certainly, Open education is necessary for any economic development. The problem is that the mass media in the Arab world still consider the reform initiative as American's, not the G8's. Politicians must make it clear to their people that this is no longer an American initiative, but comes from the G8. This is not an initiative to be imposed on anybody; it is just an offer of help to set up a framework whereby Arab countries can get the support they need to carry out their own reforms. With the background of my experience in this country and at home, it is much healthier to encourage an internal discussion of what should be done.


I wonder if you followed in the media recently the German-Moroccan Forum on terrorism? Its main purpose was to create a platform for discussions among Moroccans. The murder of the Dutch film-maker triggered heated discussions in Germany; and the same is happening in the Moroccan society. The same goes for educational and economic reforms. (…) Some successes can already be seen in the reform process here in Morocco. In discussing their problems, Moroccans, Jordanians, Syrians and others will come to learn from each other's experiences. Something may work in Morocco, but not in Yemen. My experience in this country is when you are ready to discuss your criticism and problems, people are also prepared to talk about their own problems. All we want to do is to help encourage internal dialogue, and not impose anything on anyone.







Roland Mauch took his position as Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Kingdom of Morocco in 2002, succeeding Hans-Dieter Scheel.


Mauch was born on March 12, 1944. After finishing his graduate studies in Law, he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1973 which launched a diplomatic career that would subsequently take him on missions to Geneva, Mogadishu, Moscow and Brussels. Following his nomination to the Kingdom of Morocco, Mauch served as director general of economic affairs for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Berlin.


Mauch is married and a father of two.


Upon his arrival in Morocco, Mauch and his wife were warmly received by the people they met in Rabat, where the family lives, as well as throughout Morocco. Under the direction of Mauch the German Embassy has reinforced the visibility of the excellent German-Moroccan relations, in part through integrating the privileged links that prevail between the Kingdom and the European Union. This is seen most notably at the level of economic and cultural relations.

[-thetruth]

i think it's about time to wake up and do something . i give it full support US has done a good job there and Morocco has woken up hamdolilah for that

Instead of protesting we should really thank the americans for forcing democracy on those retrograd arab regimes ....`I do not know what a hypocrite country and regime like that of Saudia Lkharia is still doing in our world...those hypocrite saudies are the ones fueling the civil war in Iraq because they do not want USA to finish with Iraq and start with them ......

[LalaMimi]

I agree - but of course if Moroccans feel they want to oppose this event, then they can do that...

I don't like what is happening in Iraq, but I don't mind Morocco having good diplomatic relations with America...

Originally posted by LalaMimi
I agree - but of course if Moroccans feel they want to oppose this event, then they can do that...

I don't like what is happening in Iraq, but I don't mind Morocco having good diplomatic relations with America...

The chaos in Iraq benifits only Saudia Alkharia , Syria and Co ...these regimes do not want change so they want to stop the USA in Iraq ...we should instead support the americans in Iraq ....the pseudo opposition in Iraq is made of saudies , syrians iranians and baathists pro Saddam iraqis....Iraqis should thank the americans indeed....

[-thetruth]

I think we need to be very careful who we deal with and take what is good and leave what is bad from anyone. all nations and people are the same regardless. I think we should be able to voice our opinion in a frank and open manner it America is doing evil we must voice it if they do good we must join them and praise them for that. Not everything America is doing is bad