Morocco: Incoherent Institutions and Systems
Writing at bitterlemons-international.org, Anouar Boukhars argues that Morocco and other Arab nations, "...purposefully perpetuate the political incongruence and economic 'dissonance' that is at the root of their failure...". According to Boukhars, this "incongruence" has manifested itself in the Algerian and Moroccan positions regarding the Western Sahara. "Algeria's policy has been stuck in perpetual tension between the military and the civilian branches of the government...", with the civilian branch supporting ...
POMED Notes: “Rediscovering Multilateralism: Toward a Cooperative Approach to Middle East Reform”
On Friday, the Project on Middle East Democracy, along with the Friedrich-Ebert Foundation and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, hosted a roundtable to discuss the findings of POMED’s recent policy workshop. The workshop, the second in a two-part series, took place over the previous two days and brought together fifteen leaders from the United States, Europe and the Middle East to explore existing multilateral frameworks designed to promote ...
October 5, 2009
Category: DC Event Notes, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Event Notes, Events, Events, Foreign Aid, Human Rights, Islam and Democracy, Legislation, NGOs, Policymakers, Reform, United Nations, US foreign policy
Secretary Clinton Addresses Freedom
On September 11th, the Roosevelt Institute awarded Secretary Clinton the Four Freedoms Medal. In her acceptance speech, Clinton implored the United States to "forge again our commitment" to the freedoms of expression and religion and the freedoms from want and fear. Clinton vowed "to stand firmly on the side of those who speak out" against tyranny and to "combat intolerance and discrimination everywhere." She also contended "learning to respect the faith of our neighbors should ...
September 14, 2009
Category: Freedom, Human Rights, Journalism, Policymakers, US foreign policy, US politics, Women
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Remarks before meeting with Morocco Foreign Minister Taib Fassi Fihri, 4/09/09: "Well, it’s wonderful to welcome Minister Fihri here today on behalf of Morocco. We are so committed to our relationship and have very high regard for the extraordinary progress that has taken place in Morocco over the last years, and we look forward to deepening and strengthening our relationship."
Secretary Hillary Clinton, Interview With Randa Aboul Azem of Al Arabiya, 3/2/2009: QUESTION: On another issue, the State Department issued a report about criticizing the human rights record of Egypt. And what kind of – in order for Egypt to enhance its record, what do you recommend or ask Egypt to do? SECRETARY CLINTON: We issue these reports on every country. We consider Egypt to be a friend and we engage in ...
Acting Deputy State Department Spokesman Gordon Duguid, Daily Press Briefing, 1/19/2009: "We welcome the release of Ayman Nour, especially as it’s been done on medical grounds, and we view this as a positive step by the Egyptian authorities. The United States has called for this release many times in the past, and therefore, it is a good and positive move."
President Barack Obama, Inaugural Address, 1/20/2009: "To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and ...
Secretary Condoleezza Rice: Interview With Robert McMahon of Council on Foreign Relations, 12/18/2008: "I personally have advocated strongly for democratic reform in Egypt. Egypt is going to be better off and, in fact, more stable ultimately when Egypt trusts its people more. And I do believe that the presidential election was a different kind of election than Egypt had ever had. There was criticism of the president’s policies right on ...
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Comments to State Department advisory committee on democracy promotion, 10/8/08: "It has been very hard in Egypt. The progress has not been everything in Egypt that we would have hoped for. We have had setbacks there, we have had disappointments there. It is very hard when I have to sit in front of young democracy advocates and have them say 'Why have you not been ...
Representative Gary L. Ackerman (D-N.Y.), Hearing of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, ("Update on the Situation in Lebanon"), 7/29/08: Comments on how the Doha Agreement is, at best, a beginning to a political solution and that Hezbollah's insurrection "forced a new and unjust status quo."
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice discusses Jordan's internal efforts at democracy (6/19/2005) - Pledging the United States government's commitment to aiding local democracy moves in the Middle East, Secretary Rice recognizes that democracy cannot come from outside and praises Jordan's own progress towards democratic freedoms and political reform.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praises Jordan for its commitment to political reform (10/1/2006) - Acknowledging that each country moves at different speeds towards democracy, Secretary Rice affirmed President Bush's continued dedication to promoting democracy in the Middle East, regarding it as the best means of regional stability.
President Bush lauds Jordan's King Abdullah II for steering his country towards reform (5/6/2004) - Praising the free trade agreement between the United States and Jordan, President Bush confirms his commitment to Jordan's ongoing prosperity and acknowledges the King's dedication to reform and the prosperity of the Jordanian people.