Arab Leaders Promise Democratic, Social Reforms

TUNIS (Reuters) - Arab governments, responding to a U.S. campaign for Arab democracy, promised Sunday to carry out political and social reforms in an oil-rich region which includes some of the world's most repressive rulers. In documents read out at the end of a two-day Arab summit in Tunis, the 22 Arab League members promised to promote democracy, expand popular participation in politics and public affairs, reinforce women's rights and expand civil society.

Foreign ministers had already agreed to the reform agenda and the impact of approval at the summit was diluted by a decision that heads of state would not personally sign the key reform documents yet. Few heads of state were still present at the end of the summit. Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi walked out Saturday in protest at the agenda.

Conference delegates said some governments preferred the approval process to go through national institutions, such as parliaments and cabinets, before heads of state sign on.

Human rights activists and analysts say they doubt the Arab leaders intend to act on their promises with much enthusiasm. "Their attitude is 'Reform yes, but not on my watch'," said a senior Western diplomat monitoring the summit.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=721&e=5&u=/nm/20040523/wl_nm/mideast_summit_dc

Arab countries don't want Democracy. Even the most progressive among them, who may once have embraced the idea, have been turned off by our example. Don't expect Democracy in the Middle east in the first part of this Century.

Keo

on human rights, the status of women, and torture and the death penalty. Unfortunately, our moral standing has never been less, thanks to Bush. Progressives have to figure this out - no one else will.

The claim was that a democratic Iraq would create peace in the region and democratic reforms in the long run. Anyone with access to a newspaper, radio or TV knows that peace is a long shot at this point, and as for reforms...

But expect the Bush regime to preen and strut over this.

Not from a culture that had such a supresive system for thousands of years.