For a reasonably open world
Managing Director at BNP Paribas, Middle East and Africa. He is Senior Banking Executive with a 20-year experience in leading coverage, structured finance and product platforms within top-tier international and regional Corporate and Investment Banks.
Ambassador of Côte d’Ivoire to Saudi Arabia. He previously served as Director of the Asia-Pacific Region at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Côte d’Ivoire.
Ambassador of France to the United Arab Emirates. He was posted to the French Permanent Representation to the United Nations as a negotiator on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. He served as Political Advisor at the French Embassy in London and as Diplomatic Advisor to the Minister for the Armed Forces.
Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia and Engineer. He has held various positions in the Saudi government, including Minister of Agriculture, as well as Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the Netherlands and Turkey.
Dean of Academic Affairs at Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy. Before assuming his current role, he has worked as an associate lecturer of international law for diplomats at the Academy. He previously served as Head of the Faculty of Law, Economics and Management at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi.
Head of Middle East and Africa of BNP Paribas Middle East & Africa for Corporate and Institutional Banking (CIB). He has worked for BNP Paribas for 32 years in a number of global roles, including leadership positions in Paris, New York & London. Prior to taking the position as Head of BNP Paribas Middle East & Africa, Amine was Senior Advisor to Global Markets. His previous roles also include Global Head of Sustainable Finance in Global Markets and Global Head of Research and Sustainable Investments within Corporate Institutional Banking. Amine also served as Global Head of Commodity Derivatives, and Head of Equity & Derivatives for the Americas. After studying at the Ecole Polytechnique in France, Amine joined BNP Paribas in 1987. He started his career as a precious metals options trader in 1990 in Paris and then New York, where he later headed up energy options trading (oil and natural gas). In 2005 Amine was named by Financial News among the 20 most influential Europeans in America. He is fluent in French, Arabic and English.
Chairman of Hedayah. Leading international expert on Extremism and Education, he is a member of the UAE Federal National Council for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Defense Affairs, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee at the Council.
Former Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to France and Germany. Prior to that, he was Director of the European Affairs Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs looking after bilateral relations. Before joining the Ministry, he held major positions in the field of Media and Communications.
By Michael Fullilove and Hervé Lemahieu
Flags waving in Shanghai, November 2021
Aly Song / Reuters
“Time and momentum are on our side,” declared Chinese President Xi Jinping in January. But developments this year have not borne out Xi’s confidence about China’s inexorable rise. A number of structural weaknesses have been dragging down China’s prospects: a rapidly aging population, climate change vulnerability, a heavy debt load, and an increasingly inward-looking political system. The United States’ power, by contrast, has grown by a more substantial margin in the past year than that of any other Indo-Pacific country.
In 2021, according to the Lowy Institute’s Asia Power Index—a data-driven annual assessment that measures national resources and international influence to rank the relative power of the states in the Indo-Pacific—Beijing lost ground in half of the index’s measures of power, including diplomatic influence, cultural influence, economic capability, and future resources. In the same period, Washington registered its first annual gain in comprehensive power since the launch of the index in 2018.
The United States exerts greater, more multidimensional power—from military capabilities and defense networks to diplomatic and cultural influence—than any other country in the world. Just as significant, the United States has this year outranked China in the index’s measure of future resources, a combined assessment of the projected distribution of economic and military capabilities and demographic strength in the future. Whether the United States remains the top power in the Indo-Pacific for decades to come depends on how it plays its cards. Yet it is already clear that China will never be as dominant as the United States once was. A bipolar future beckons.
Much of the improvement in the United States’ performance in 2021 is the result of domestic renewal and successful coalition building. President Joe Biden has stressed that foreign policy success starts at home. The new administration has made significant progress on dealing with COVID-19, investing in infrastructure, and boosting the U.S. economy—the only major global economy now predicted to be larger in 2030 than was forecast prior to the pandemic.
The faster-than-expected U.S. economic recovery has coincided with growing headwinds in China. China’s economic growth is slowing, from eight percent annually a decade ago to a “new normal” of just over four percent annually predicted by the end of this decade. Even at that rate, China’s GDP at market exchange rates will still overtake that of the United States. But there are inherent limits on the speed at which China can continue to grow beyond 2030. Its workforce is projected to contract by almost 20 percent from current levels by midcentury, and there are few policy levers to turn around the decline in China’s working-age population. Productivity growth is slowing, and China’s investment-heavy approach for driving the economy will produce diminishing returns over time. What is more, by some estimates, Beijing spends more on projecting power inward, on domestic security, than outward, on military expenditure.
But domestic strength is only half the story. Just as important as what a superpower has is what it does with what it has. Washington has redoubled its emphasis on allies and partners as a force multiplier for U.S. power. The Biden administration has strengthened long-standing bilateral alliances, such as those with Japan and South Korea, and refreshed defense ties with the Philippines. New multilateral partnerships such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (with Australia, India, and Japan) and AUKUS (with Australia and the United Kingdom) offer Washington its best hope of upholding a military balance in its favor despite the declining margin of U.S. military superiority in the region.
The U.S. has the only major global economy predicted to be larger in 2030 than it was before the pandemic.
China may be building the world’s largest navy at a fearsome clip and investing in signature military capabilities, including an expanded nuclear deterrent. It has intimidated Taiwan, jostled with India, and pressed its claims aggressively in the East China and South China Seas. But rather than enhancing Beijing’s influence, such behavior undermines its ability to replace Washington as the regional security guarantor.
Washington has also seized the diplomatic initiative on issues from COVID-19 vaccines to development and infrastructure finance and climate action. By October 2021, the United States had donated and delivered more than 90 million vaccine doses to the Indo-Pacific region—twice as many as China, the next-largest donor in aggregate terms—and had been more generous on a per capita basis than any other donor in the Indo-Pacific. The net result has improved the United States’ diplomatic standing markedly. Biden is judged by regional experts to be the most effective Indo-Pacific leader, up ten places from President Donald Trump’s ranking in 2020.
Biden’s reputation was not significantly diminished by the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in August 2021 nor by France’s anger at the AUKUS announcement. In fact, Washington’s push to end the forever war in Afghanistan and bolster Australia’s sovereign capabilities were taken as tangible signs in many Asian capitals that the United States is focusing on this region and betting on its allies.
If there is one factor that threatens the United States’ strong position it is the decline in its regional economic influence. Here, U.S. policymakers should be alarmed. The rate of deterioration points to the risk of growing American irrelevance in the political economy of Asia.
Beijing’s economic power in the region is built on a narrow but deep foundation. China is virtually on par with the United States in terms of overall economic capacity but is vastly ahead in terms of regional economic relationships. China’s ability to connect with and influence the choices of other countries in Asia through economic interdependencies underlies this power, just as U.S. defense partnerships are the mainstay of U.S. military power. Trade flows between China and the rest of Asia are now three times the size of those between the United States and the region. China has also become the primary foreign investor in as many countries in the Indo-Pacific as the United States and Japan, the next-largest investor, combined.
China is vastly ahead of the U.S. in regional economic relationships.
The disparity in regional economic relationships has been a chronic weakness for the United States for many years. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), signed between 12 Pacific countries in 2016, was a centerpiece of the Obama administration’s strategic pivot to Asia and was meant to redress this weakness, countering the growing influence of China’s state-capitalist model in the region. But the United States withdrew in 2018, and without Washington anchoring the successor agreement, the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, the grouping risks underachieving on the original goal of strengthening and deepening the “rules of the road” of the regional trading system. Yet there seems to be little hope of a president from either party joining the CPTPP or a similar agreement anytime soon. The anti-trade consensus in U.S. politics is preventing the formation of an effective multilateral hedge against China’s economic power. It remains to be seen whether the Biden administration’s forthcoming “economic framework for the Indo-Pacific” can overcome domestic U.S. opposition to free trade and offer the region anything of substance.
In the meantime, Asia is not waiting. Alternative models for a rules-based regional trade environment are well underway. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, for instance, led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, will enter into force next month. The RCEP, unlike the CPTPP, has few commitments on labor, the environment, intellectual property, and state-owned enterprises. But it will result in more trade, investment, and supply chain integration for its 15 Asian partners—first among them, China.
The limitations on U.S. economic leadership in the Indo-Pacific point to the deeper problem: just as the United States’ resurgence in the past year stems from events at home, so do the biggest threats to the sustainability of this resurgence. The U.S. position will be threatened without a new commitment to economic engagement with the region, which in turn depends on American domestic dynamics. The other big danger for the United States is the polarization of its domestic politics and the threat this poses to the stability of the United States’ democratic institutions—and ultimately, its reliability as an ally and partner. It may be that the biggest risk to U.S. power in Asia lies not in Beijing but in Washington.
Read the original article on Foreign Affairs
04.10.2021
سابين عويس
#أبو ظبي– سابين عويسفيما يغرق اللبنانيون في يومياتهم البائسة بحثاً عن مقومات عيش كريم، من دون أي أفق واضح لمستقبل يكتنفه غموض حول ما تحمله المعادلات الجديدة التي ترتسم في المنطقة، كان مستقبل #الشرق الأوسط والدول الدائرة في فلكه محور جلسات نقاش استضافها مؤتمر السياسات العالمية “world Policy Conference ” في طبعته الرابعة عشرة التي انعقدت على مدى ثلاثة أيام في مدينة أبو ظبي الاماراتية، حيث اجتمعت اكثر من ٣٠٠ شخصية من عالم الاقتصاد الجيوسياسي ومراكز الابحاث والدراسات للبحث بأجندا محفوفة بالملفات الساخنة التي اقلقت وشغلت العالم على مدى العامين الماضيين.لم يكن الملف الصحي غداة جائحة كورونا التي شلت العالم، الهاجس الوحيد على طاولة قصر المؤتمرات، بقدر ما كانت مسألة التعاطي والخروج منها امراً أكثر اهمية في ضوء التداعيات السلبية للاقفال التي ترافقت مع متغيرات مهمة جداً في المشهد السياسي الاقليمي والدولي.لم يغب عن المجتمعين هاجس الصراع الاميركي الصيني الذي بدأ يتحول الى ما يشبه الحرب الباردة بين العملاقين على قيادة العالم. وليس خافياً ان التغير او ما سُمي هنا بالمزاجية الاميركية المتقلبة تجاه اولويات السياسة…
By arabnews.com
Anwar Gargash, the UAE’s presidential diplomatic adviser and former minister of state for foreign affairs, was speaking at the World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi. (Screenshot) China has emerged as a powerful economic player in the region and is the Gulf’s biggest buyer of crude oil China offers lucrative partnerships to Gulf states…
25.10.2021
By KATERYNA KADABASHY AND ROBERT EDWARDS
General view of vehicles stuck in a traffic jam amidst street vendors in the central Attaba district of Egypt’s capital Cairo on This picture taken on Feb. 22, 2021. (File/AFP) (1/2)
Nabil Fahmy, Egypt’s former foreign minister, speaks on the fringes of the World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi. (Supplied) (2/2)
BOGOTA/ABU DHABI: Egypt has experienced a decade of upheaval since the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in 2011, contending with two revolutions, environmental pressures, and more recently the economic challenges of COVID-19.
And yet, this most populous of Arab countries, straddling the African and Asian continents, has emerged from the turbulence with a new sense of purpose and a desire for greater engagement with the region and the world.
It has been announced that Egypt is a nominee to host the COP27 UN climate conference for 2022 — a distinction that seemed unthinkable just a few years ago.
This October not only marks the 48th anniversary of the 1973 war with Israel; 40 years ago on October 6, President Anwar Sadat was assassinated by Islamist extremists during the annual victory parade in Cairo.
For many in the Middle East, Sadat’s positive legacy is a work in progress: The Egypt-Israel peace process, Egyptian economic development and political liberalization, the Palestinian peace process, and overcoming the challenge of violent extremism.
“What I have seen recently, in this last year in particular, is that Egypt is much more engaged in trying to determine movement on regional issues,” Nabil Fahmy, former Egyptian foreign minister, said during a discussion at the World Policy Conference held earlier in October in Abu Dhabi.
“Egypt faced a couple of hurdles. But (look at) the strength of its system. I doubt very few countries in the region, and some abroad, frankly, could have survived two revolutions in three years and come out standing.”
The latest economic forecasts show that Egypt is now entering the recovery phase following the blows of the COVID-19 pandemic. “There’s clear evidence of economic progress,” Fahmy said. “Even post-pandemic we’re looking at 4 to 5 percent growth this coming year, which is significant.”
His observations were echoed by Egyptian politician and academic Mona Makram-Ebeid at the same conference.
“Now there is a ray of hope emerging and it comes in the form of natural gas discovery, with a potential to boost Egypt’s limping economy and build a new commercial alliance with eastern Mediterranean countries and Israel.
“Egypt struck the jackpot in 2015 with the discovery of a giant reservoir known as Zohr, which has developed into one of the largest single gas fields in the Middle East.”
To date, Zohr is the biggest gas field discovered in the Mediterranean region, with nearly 30 trillion cubic feet of reserves. The field — which is operated by Italian Eni — started production in December 2017.
From all accounts, there has been marked progress in more than just the economic field. Egypt is also making strides in institutional reform, bolstering the rule of law and addressing international concerns over its rights record.
“Just three weeks ago, we issued a new human rights doctrine,” Fahmy said. “It’s not perfect. Human rights doctrines and applications anywhere in the world are not perfect. But it’s tremendous progress. And it’s a reflection that we want to move forward.
“Short term, it’s going to be a challenge. Medium term, I’m much more confident. But, as Egyptians, given our weight, given the role we have to play, I also want us to be able to look long term and engage with our neighbors.”
Makram-Ebeid praised the new doctrine, saying that it would have a positive impact on several aspects of Egyptian life.
“It will give access to job opportunities, education, healthcare and religious freedoms,” she said.
Egypt’s latest decade of upheaval began on Jan. 25, 2011, when thousands of protesters spilled onto the streets of Cairo to demand change. Aggressive police tactics to quell the protests culminated in calls for Mubarak’s removal.
When he was finally toppled from power, young Egyptians felt their moment had come to create a fairer society. In reality, it was only the beginning of a fresh period of discontent and uncertainty. The country was rocked by new economic calamities and the rise to power of Mohamed Morsi — an Islamist politician affiliated with the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.
The “second Egyptian revolution” came in 2013, a year after Morsi’s inauguration. The resumption of street protests that summer saw Morsi forced from office and the Muslim Brotherhood designated as a terrorist organization.
The following year, Morsi’s defense minister, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, won the presidential election and was sworn into office.
“The basic challenge between the Muslim Brotherhood and the rest of the Egyptian system was about our identity,” Fahmy told the WPC event.
“Are we Egyptians including some Muslim Brotherhood, or are we the Muslim Brotherhood that has some Egyptians? That’s an existential threat and that’s why the clash happened quickly. Not only political influencers, but also the middle class were actually against the form of government that was being formed by the Muslim Brotherhood when they came into power.”
The Brotherhood was founded in 1928 in Egypt by Hassan Al-Banna, and later spread throughout the Middle East into Sudan, Syria, Palestine and Lebanon and across North Africa, where its affiliates have had varying degrees of success.
“The Muslim Brotherhood was born in Egypt, so there will be some trends in Egypt. But the reality is, if you try to build for the future, then our youth want to be engaged in the world,” Fahmy said.
“A dogmatic ideology doesn’t fit Egypt. We need to engage with the world, and I think that ideology is a threat to modernity.
“The influence of the Brotherhood today in Egypt is highly diminished and the government, currently — whether one agrees or disagrees with some details of policy is irrelevant — is an activist government trying to respond to the basic, immediate needs of the people.”
Egypt’s greater emphasis on regional and global engagement has been evident in recent months. Besides recent talks with senior Iraqi and Syrian officials, Egypt has also made diplomatic headway with its rivals. “We have engaged in a dialogue with Turkey,” Fahmy said. “It’s slow, (so) don’t be overly optimistic.”
One diplomatic front where Egypt has made noteworthy progress in the last year is Libya, which in the past decade has become a haven for human smugglers and religious extremists.
During the same revolutionary wave that overthrew Mubarak, the Libyan people rose up against their long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi. However, a decade on from his downfall, the oil-rich country remains mired in chaos and political gridlock.
Since the two countries share a porous desert border, the extremists based in Libya have, time and again, succeeded in carrying out attacks against Egyptian security forces and Christians.
In recent months, Egypt has engaged with Libya’s feuding parties to ensure that national elections are held in December as scheduled. Cairo believes a fair and transparent election will help put its war-torn neighbor on the path to stability and recovery.
Fahmy says there has been good progress on the Libya issue, but he doubts the elections scheduled for Dec. 24 by the country’s recently installed Government of National Unity will go ahead as planned. “I would love to be proven wrong,” he said.
Fahmy is well regarded after his years as a career diplomat and academic. He is the founding dean of the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy and Distinguished University Professor of Practice in International Diplomacy at the American University in Cairo. He has dedicated many years of study to Arab-Israeli diplomacy, making him a leading authority on the peace process.
Last summer, the UAE became the first Arab country to sign the Abraham Accords, a series of US-brokered diplomatic agreements inked between Israel and Arab states. The Aug. 13, 2020 signing marked the first time an Arab country had publicly established relations with Israel since Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994.
Although the agreements have shown potential, critics say they have done little to bring the Palestinians any closer to statehood. And while several governments have embraced the accords, the normalization of ties with Israel has been harder to sell to Arab publics.
“You can’t overemphasize that the Palestinian issue, per se, is a very emotional issue throughout the Arab world and therefore reactions to it tend to be very strong in either way,” Fahmy said.
“My point is the following — and I have said this to my Palestinian colleagues — I understand your concern, I understand your fear, but focus on building your case rather than on criticizing somebody. Because, in the case of those who signed the accords, even if we don’t agree with them, they have all committed to helping establish and support a Palestinian state.
“So, my recommendation to Arabs: Be a bit sensitive in the steps you take. You will have to face that this is sensitive, you will get some criticism.
“I would tell my Arab colleagues, I would tell the Palestinians, come up with ideas on how to move forward politically, and don’t let the political process die.”
Mona Makram Abed with President El-Sisi, Dec. 4 2016. (Facebook)
Given Egypt’s renewed assertiveness on the regional stage, Fahmy hopes other Arab countries will follow Egypt’s lead and come to the negotiating table to speak frankly about the way forward. “Arabs are lovely in their ability to agree. Our problem is our inability to disagree,” he said.
“Let me seize this occasion to call on Egypt and the Arab countries: We should all speak much more about our vision for the future, for the region, and what we want to see for the Middle East as a whole in concrete terms.
“We don’t have to agree, but we need to engage in a dialogue and let’s see how much agreement and how much disagreement we have. Because allowing others to set the agenda is very dangerous.”
18.10.2021
國際縱橫 RFI
作者：艾米
本台（法廣）法語部的地緣政治欄目本月初做的一個題為“正在發生變化的全球化”節目中指出，世界已經變得複雜，難以破譯，而且比以往任何時候都更加相互關聯。面對不斷變化的全球化，在美中關係史無前例的分裂和推動下，人們越來越感到集體知識和合作的必要性。記者 Marie France Chatin 對世界政策會議的創始人和主席 ，同時也是法國智庫，法國國際關係研究（IFRI）的創始人和所長德蒙比亞（Thierry de Montbrial）以及法國費加羅報的高級記者和外交政策編輯 雷諾 吉拉爾德（Renaud Girard）進行了專訪，這次訪問的後半部分談到了中美關係以及台海局勢等主題，其中有些比較獨特的觀察點，在本次國際縱橫節目中與大家分享。
記者：目前有沒有避免中美之間對抗的可能性？
德蒙比亞： 避免競爭的可能性絕對沒有，競爭一定會發生，中國希望成為在本世紀成為全球的第一強國，這是世人皆知的事實，時間點或許是2049年，也就是中共建政一百周年的時候，這也是正在發生的事實。但現在中國一定不希望發生戰爭，而是更希望通過中國的方式來實現，也就是說不戰而勝，這一點也是無可置疑的，但這並不是說在通往這個目標的路上不會發生事故，有不少人認為最大的危險就是發生擦槍走火的意外。這裡就會有一個很難預測事態發展前景，但令人感到非常疑惑的問題，沒有人能夠給出一個準確的答案，這個問題就是：為什麼習近平堅持要在台灣問題上冒險？他不僅強化了語氣，甚至也非常明確地說要在自己執政期間解決台灣問題，我們都知道他採取措施修改了憲法讓他至少可以再多執政一次，但時間還是很短的，而這就是一個非常具有挑釁性的動作。這樣就會引發與1962年古巴的導彈危機相似的局勢，在這種情況下，要麼採取正確的措施，也就是和古巴導彈危機一樣，危機結束後建立進行武器控制和互相信任的機制等，要麼就是發生擦槍走火的意外，出現完全失控的局面，這些都是可能發生的局面，但很難預測其可能性有多大。
記者：目前中美兩個陣營都在運作，其戰略也越來越清晰了，中國對台灣虎視眈眈，但最近美國澳大利亞和英國建立起來一個名為奧庫斯Aukus的共同軍事安全合作夥伴關系，澳大利亞也撕毀了與法國簽署的常規潛艇世紀合同，轉而向美國購買核動力潛艇，如何看這種局面？
吉拉爾德：是的，我認為現在可以說這是第二次太平洋戰爭的開端，這場戰爭可能持續40年的時間，但這場戰爭和之前的那些都不同，不再是魚雷戰，而是網絡駭客戰，是威懾戰，如果可以將其比作是一場五局比賽的話，我認為中國現在輸掉了第一局。三四年前，澳大利亞還是和中國非常友好的國家，中國也是它最大的貿易夥伴，而今天很清楚的一點是，澳大利亞人害怕中國，他們被北京採取的魯莽措施震驚了，而原因竟是堪培拉要求對新冠疫情的起源進行國際調查，實際上，大當一場瘟疫在全球範圍內爆發之後，做出這樣的要求應該說是再正常不過的事了，但中國方面卻做出了異常激烈的反應，隨後就開始針對澳大利亞進行網絡攻擊等。而現在美英澳達成的這個協議很明顯就是針對中國而來的，另外我們還知道有美印日澳之前已經組成的四國對話機制。但應該說中國人沒有完全輸掉這場比賽，因為中國很會採取耐心戰術，他們在等待時機成熟，因為如果他們回頭看看歷史的話，就知道需要等待的是等美國人自己放棄。美國人1955年曾經到東南亞去想代替歐洲人，但是1975年也在放棄西貢離開越南而結束，美國人2003年到伊拉克，但2011年也撤退了，中國人當然也看到美國人2001年進駐到阿富汗，但2021年也完全撤軍。
因此，這也是中國人希望在印度太平洋上打的戰役，中國人已經在某些領域取得了優勢，他們佔有並在南海的島礁上建立了基地，而如果按照國際法的話，這些地方之前並不隸屬於任何國家。通過這種方式，中國已經在南海獲得了比地中海面積更加寬大的海域，他們同時也大力發展海軍，而這些都是因為習近平的某種“癡迷”，他希望自己在台灣回歸“祖國懷抱”之後才離開政權，但這可能會導致局面失控。
首先台灣人已經看到了香港人的例子，他們希望堅持自己 民主和自由體制。同時我們也注意到，和第一次太平洋戰爭期間一樣，俄羅斯在這個問題上選擇了保持中立的態度。
德蒙比亞先生補充說道：“剛才他提到這場比賽的第一輪，中國在這個問題上可以說是輸掉了，這是一種說法，但我認為他們對澳大利亞美國和英國組成的奧庫斯聯盟首先是感到非常震驚，沒有想到對方會在這麼短的時間內就做出回應，在歐洲也一樣，因為中國在中東歐和巴爾幹地區的國家組建了16+1機制，通過這種方式滲透到歐洲的一些國家，但美國也同樣做出了反應，這也是中國始料未及的。
另外一點，我認為習近平的態度非常奇怪，因為這和“耐心的戰術”不相符，在這個問題上有些令人不解的地方。”
記者：美國和中國對抗的同時，與歐洲的關係也變得更加微妙了，澳大利亞取消與法國的世紀潛艇合同一度引發與美國和澳大利亞的外交危機，但同時歐洲也意識到應該建立自己的防衛能力，在美國的重心轉向印太地區的情況下，如何看待法國與美國的關係？美國的國務卿布林肯最近也到了巴黎訪問，這是一種姿態嗎？
德蒙比亞： 布林肯的確來法國訪問了，我們都知道布林肯，但他畢竟是美國的國務卿，我認為潛艇危機還是有其好處的，因為至少它讓我們看到一點，那就是，我們和美國可以繼續成為跨大西洋的盟友，但不要忘記的是，面對巨大的威脅時，每個國家都是孤獨的，必須自己面對問題。
記者：但在這個問題上，也有必要讓歐洲跟隨法國的步伐？
吉拉爾德：但是也不要抱任何幻想，現在看起來歐洲防衛是一個遊戲，或許兩百年後可以得到實現吧。因為說到防衛就不得不提到軍隊，不能不需要戰士，而戰士就是隨時準備為了一個原因殺人或獻身的。在歐洲的國家中，可以說只有英國和法國有戰士，如果你們知道歐洲還有哪個國家有戰士，請你們告訴我，因為我的確不知道。我看到德國軍人在科索沃或阿富汗執行任務，但他們不是戰士，荷蘭軍人也不是，當然另外還有其他一些國家，比如波蘭，波蘭人不介意說他們就是美國的奴隸，他們認為這樣感覺很好，也不需要其他的身份，目前的局面對他們來說也非常合適。 因此不要抱任何幻想，至於如何做，我認為應該建立聯盟，儘管澳大利亞在潛艇合同問題上在我們背後捅了一刀，但實際上也並不是太過嚴重的問題，而且法國海軍集團也不缺訂單。我認為應該繼續和英國結盟，因為英國與我們很近，可以採取聯合行動。而且，如果認為法國有能夠保護澳大利亞去面對中國的威脅也是不可能的，澳大利亞當然要回歸到美國那一邊，我們之前沒有看到這一點，這是我們的錯誤，在這個問題上不夠聰明。
但對法國來說，目前最急迫的問題是地中海，當法國面對土耳其在利比亞的擴張主義做出反應時，所有的歐洲國家都拋棄了我們，我們應該建立ADOC聯盟，支持和強化希臘對抗土耳其總理埃爾多安的後奧斯曼帝國的野心，或許土耳其的政權以後會發生變化，但現在很明顯的是，他們有在地中海擴張的決心，我對法國在這個事情上孤軍奮戰的局面感到遺憾。
03.10.2021
ABU DHABI, 3rd October 2021 (WAM) – A number of ministers and officials from the United Arab Emirates have participated in the World Policy Conference, hosted in Abu Dhabi, to share the geopolitical, cultural, and economic priorities of the country.
Founded in 2008 by Thierry de Montbrial, Chairman of the French Institute of International Relations, the World Policy Conference held its fourteenth edition from October 1-3, 2021 in the UAE for the first time. The World Policy Conference brings together top-level decision-makers, academics, and opinion leaders from over 40 countries to discuss solutions to contemporary global challenges and forge bonds between key international actors.
UAE officials participating in the World Policy Conference included Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and UAE officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation; Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of State; Khalifa Shaheen Almarar, Minister of State; Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; and Salem Mohammed Al Zaabi, Director of the International Security Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
Dr. Gargash participated in a discussion with Thierry de Montbrial on geopolitical issues on Saturday, October 2. During his participation, Gargash addressed regional and international challenges, noting “Confrontation is not the way forward. Rather, conversation is the way forward. The UAE is exerting all efforts to maintain dialogue between states. The Abraham Accords are emblematic of this: the Accords have been a success in breaking the psychological barrier to peace and strengthening the economic and people-to-people benefits that all can reap.”
“The UAE has historically played a significant role as a mediator and facilitator, and our priority is on maintaining the fabric of trust in the international community in order to encourage positive engagement between states,” Dr. Gargash added.
In his participation in a workshop on Africa held on Saturday, Sheikh Shakhbout Al Nahyan reviewed the UAE’s efforts to strengthen partnerships throughout the African continent, pointing to the ways in which the UAE has expanded economic and political relations with African states in recent years.
Sheikh Shakhbout remarked, “We are excited to enter a new era, post COVID-19, when we will be able to build stronger partnerships across Africa with the hopes of creating a better future for our countries and regions a future built on stability, security, and sustainability. We understand that the only way to achieve this is through dialogue, open channels of communication, the exchange of information and knowledge, and above all, the development of strategic partnerships that are mutually beneficial.”
Almarar, during a session entitled “Middle East and External Powers” held on Sunday, October 3, underscored the UAE’s commitment to reinforcing regional stability and security through a multilateral, rules-based approach in coordination with its international partners.
In his remarks, Almarar stated, “We have to acknowledge that there are legitimate concerns and legitimate interest among world powers in the development of the Middle East insofar as security and stability are concerned There is consensus among Arab countries that any malicious intervention in crises in the region can make a very complex situation more complex. Therefore, we feel it is necessary to promote stability, security, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.”
Al Hashemy attended virtually to highlight the UAE’s hosting of Expo 2020 Dubai, stating, “I am proud to share with you all that yesterday’s opening of Expo 2020 Dubai was one that exemplified the years of hard work and aspirations of the UAE and all participating countries and organizations. With 192 participating countries, Expo 2020 Dubai will act as a global platform dedicated to bringing people, nations, and communities together to build bridges, enable action, and inspire real-life solutions to real-world challenges for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. It is also an opportunity for humanity to convene in the spirit of hope, optimism, and positive change for the future.”
Al Zaabi participated in a session on “Afghanistan and the Sahel” on Sunday. During his participation, Al Zaabi reviewed the UAE’s efforts to address the humanitarian and security situations in areas currently experiencing conflict, remarking, “The historic importance of Afghanistan cannot be understated, nor can its impact on the regional climate for security and stability.”
25.10.2021
الاخوان
سلطت صحيفة «أراب نيوز» الضوء على خروج مصر من مواجهة الاضطرابات المختلفة وإعادة نفسها من جديد كقوة لايستهان بها في الساحة الإقليمية.
وقالت الصحيفة إن مصر شهدت عقدًا من الاضطرابات منذ 2011 ، حيث واجهت ثورتين وضغوطًا بيئية، ومؤخراً التحديات الاقتصادية لفيروس كورونا كوفيد -19 ومع ذلك فإن مصر الدولة العربية الأكثر اكتظاظًا بالسكان، وتمتد عبر القارتين الأفريقية والآسيوية، خرجت من الاضطرابات بمزيد من المشاركة مع المنطقة والعالم، حيث تم الإعلان عن ترشيح مصر لاستضافة مؤتمر المناخ للأمم المتحدة COP27 لعام 2022 – وهو أمر لم يكن متاح لمصر من قبل.
وقال نبيل فهمي وزير الخارجية المصري السابق، خلال مناقشة في مؤتمر السياسة العالمية الذي عقد في وقت سابق: «ما رأيته مؤخرًا، في العام الماضي على وجه الخصوص، هو أن مصر أكثر الدول انخراطًا وبشكل إيجابي في القضايا الإقليمية».
وتظهر أحدث التوقعات الاقتصادية أن مصر تدخل الآن مرحلة التعافي بعد ضربات وباء كوفيد -19.
وأضاف: «هناك دليل واضح على التقدم الاقتصادي، حتى في فترة ما بعد الجائحة نتطلع إلى تحقيق نمو بنسبة 4 إلى 5% في العام المقبل وهو أمر مهم».
كما قالت منى مكرم عبيد أستاذة العلوم السياسية بالجامعة الأمريكية بالقاهرة في نفس المؤتمر: «هناك الآن بصيص من الأمل يظهر في اكتشاف للغاز الطبيعي، مع إمكانية تعزيز الاقتصاد المتعثر في مصر وبناء تحالف تجاري جديد مع دول شرق البحر المتوسط».
وتابعت: «حتى الآن “ظهر” هو أكبر حقل غاز تم اكتشافه في منطقة البحر الأبيض المتوسط، مع ما يقرب من 30 تريليون قدم مكعب من الاحتياطيات، وبدأ الحقل – الذي تديره شركة إيني الإيطالية – الإنتاج في ديسمبر 2017».
وأضافت: «هناك تقدم ملحوظ ومصر تخطو خطوات واسعة في الإصلاح المؤسسي، وتعزيز سيادة القانون».
وأشادت بالوثيقة الجديدة في مجال حقوق الإنسان، قائلة: “سيكون لها تأثير إيجابي على جوانب عديدة من الحياة المصرية”.
وتابعت الصحيفة أن فترة حكم الإخوان في مصر شهدت عدة كوارث هزت البلاد مع صعود المخلوع محمد مرسي إلى السلطة.
وفي عام 2013، وبعد عام من تنصيب مرسي خرج الشعب المصري لرافض حكم الإخوان، مجبرا مرسي على التنحي وتصنيف جماعة الإخوان المسلمين كمنظمة إرهابية.
كانت ليبيا إحدى الجبهات الدبلوماسية التي أحرزت مصر فيها تقدمًا ملحوظًا العام الماضي، حيث تحولت ليبيا في العقد الماضي إلى ملاذًا لمهربي البشر والمتطرفين
03.10.2021
Le Premier ministre ivoirien Patrick Achi a participé à l’ouverture de la 14ème édition de la World Policy Conference, le 1er octobre 2021 à Abu Dhabi (Émirats Arabes Unis). Représentant le Président Alassane Ouattara, le chef du gouvernement a plaidé pour un financement important des économies africaines.
La World Policy Conference est une initiative de l’Ifri, l’Institut français des relations internationales créé par le professeur émérite français, Thierry de Montbrial en 1979. Elle réunit des personnalités de haut niveau venues des quatre coins du monde dont les dirigeants politiques et économiques, chercheurs et journalistes, dans l’esprit de tolérance seul propice à la recherche du bien commun.
Dans son discours au cours de cette conférence d’ouverture, Patrick Achi a expliqué les enjeux du financement des pays africains qui ont subi les affres sociaux-économiques de la crise sanitaire : «Les pays du continent sont dans
une situation post-Covid encore plus exigeante avec la baisse tendancielle de la croissance. Il faut permettre aux pays africains d’accéder à des ressources de grande ampleur et à faible coût», a-t-il indiqué.
Selon le chef du gouvernement, ces ressources permettront d’investir dans les secteurs sociaux et dans les infrastructures, afin de créer un écosystème favorable à l’accélération du développement de l’Afrique.
Rappelons que les assises de la WPC qui se tiennent du 1er au 3 octobre 2021 dans la capitale des Emirats Arabes Unis et portent essentiellement sur les politiques économiques pratiquées dans le monde. La Côte d’Ivoire qui est sur la voie de la transformation profonde de son économie est très attendue à ce rendez-vous mondial.
Ahmed Coulibaly
06.10.2021
ABU DHABI, 6th October, 2021 (WAM) — Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, has received Patrick Achi, Prime Minister of Ivory Coast, to discuss ways of enhancing bilateral ties and a host of issues of mutual interest.
The Ivory Coast’s Prime Minister is in Abu Dhabi to participate in the World Policy Conference.
Sheikh Shakhbout said UAE-Ivory Coast relations were progressing steadily, noting tremendous potential and opportunities to push them forward in the best interest of the two countries.
For his part, Patrick Achi expressed his pride in the strong relationship that binds his country with the UAE, pointing out that there are many opportunities to advance bilateral ties.
WAM/Tariq alfaham/Esraa Ismail
25.10.2021
By KATERYNA KADABASHY AND ROBERT EDWARDS
General view of vehicles stuck in a traffic jam amidst street vendors in the central Attaba district of Egypt’s capital Cairo on This picture taken on Feb. 22, 2021. (File/AFP) (1/2)
Nabil Fahmy, Egypt’s former foreign minister, speaks on the fringes of the World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi. (Supplied) (2/2)
BOGOTA/ABU DHABI: Egypt has experienced a decade of upheaval since the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in 2011, contending with two revolutions, environmental pressures, and more recently the economic challenges of COVID-19.
And yet, this most populous of Arab countries, straddling the African and Asian continents, has emerged from the turbulence with a new sense of purpose and a desire for greater engagement with the region and the world.
It has been announced that Egypt is a nominee to host the COP27 UN climate conference for 2022 — a distinction that seemed unthinkable just a few years ago.
This October not only marks the 48th anniversary of the 1973 war with Israel; 40 years ago on October 6, President Anwar Sadat was assassinated by Islamist extremists during the annual victory parade in Cairo.
For many in the Middle East, Sadat’s positive legacy is a work in progress: The Egypt-Israel peace process, Egyptian economic development and political liberalization, the Palestinian peace process, and overcoming the challenge of violent extremism.
“What I have seen recently, in this last year in particular, is that Egypt is much more engaged in trying to determine movement on regional issues,” Nabil Fahmy, former Egyptian foreign minister, said during a discussion at the World Policy Conference held earlier in October in Abu Dhabi.
“Egypt faced a couple of hurdles. But (look at) the strength of its system. I doubt very few countries in the region, and some abroad, frankly, could have survived two revolutions in three years and come out standing.”
The latest economic forecasts show that Egypt is now entering the recovery phase following the blows of the COVID-19 pandemic. “There’s clear evidence of economic progress,” Fahmy said. “Even post-pandemic we’re looking at 4 to 5 percent growth this coming year, which is significant.”
His observations were echoed by Egyptian politician and academic Mona Makram-Ebeid at the same conference.
“Now there is a ray of hope emerging and it comes in the form of natural gas discovery, with a potential to boost Egypt’s limping economy and build a new commercial alliance with eastern Mediterranean countries and Israel.
“Egypt struck the jackpot in 2015 with the discovery of a giant reservoir known as Zohr, which has developed into one of the largest single gas fields in the Middle East.”
To date, Zohr is the biggest gas field discovered in the Mediterranean region, with nearly 30 trillion cubic feet of reserves. The field — which is operated by Italian Eni — started production in December 2017.
From all accounts, there has been marked progress in more than just the economic field. Egypt is also making strides in institutional reform, bolstering the rule of law and addressing international concerns over its rights record.
“Just three weeks ago, we issued a new human rights doctrine,” Fahmy said. “It’s not perfect. Human rights doctrines and applications anywhere in the world are not perfect. But it’s tremendous progress. And it’s a reflection that we want to move forward.
“Short term, it’s going to be a challenge. Medium term, I’m much more confident. But, as Egyptians, given our weight, given the role we have to play, I also want us to be able to look long term and engage with our neighbors.”
Makram-Ebeid praised the new doctrine, saying that it would have a positive impact on several aspects of Egyptian life.
“It will give access to job opportunities, education, healthcare and religious freedoms,” she said.
Egypt’s latest decade of upheaval began on Jan. 25, 2011, when thousands of protesters spilled onto the streets of Cairo to demand change. Aggressive police tactics to quell the protests culminated in calls for Mubarak’s removal.
When he was finally toppled from power, young Egyptians felt their moment had come to create a fairer society. In reality, it was only the beginning of a fresh period of discontent and uncertainty. The country was rocked by new economic calamities and the rise to power of Mohamed Morsi — an Islamist politician affiliated with the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.
The “second Egyptian revolution” came in 2013, a year after Morsi’s inauguration. The resumption of street protests that summer saw Morsi forced from office and the Muslim Brotherhood designated as a terrorist organization.
The following year, Morsi’s defense minister, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, won the presidential election and was sworn into office.
“The basic challenge between the Muslim Brotherhood and the rest of the Egyptian system was about our identity,” Fahmy told the WPC event.
“Are we Egyptians including some Muslim Brotherhood, or are we the Muslim Brotherhood that has some Egyptians? That’s an existential threat and that’s why the clash happened quickly. Not only political influencers, but also the middle class were actually against the form of government that was being formed by the Muslim Brotherhood when they came into power.”
The Brotherhood was founded in 1928 in Egypt by Hassan Al-Banna, and later spread throughout the Middle East into Sudan, Syria, Palestine and Lebanon and across North Africa, where its affiliates have had varying degrees of success.
“The Muslim Brotherhood was born in Egypt, so there will be some trends in Egypt. But the reality is, if you try to build for the future, then our youth want to be engaged in the world,” Fahmy said.
“A dogmatic ideology doesn’t fit Egypt. We need to engage with the world, and I think that ideology is a threat to modernity.
“The influence of the Brotherhood today in Egypt is highly diminished and the government, currently — whether one agrees or disagrees with some details of policy is irrelevant — is an activist government trying to respond to the basic, immediate needs of the people.”
Egypt’s greater emphasis on regional and global engagement has been evident in recent months. Besides recent talks with senior Iraqi and Syrian officials, Egypt has also made diplomatic headway with its rivals. “We have engaged in a dialogue with Turkey,” Fahmy said. “It’s slow, (so) don’t be overly optimistic.”
One diplomatic front where Egypt has made noteworthy progress in the last year is Libya, which in the past decade has become a haven for human smugglers and religious extremists.
During the same revolutionary wave that overthrew Mubarak, the Libyan people rose up against their long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi. However, a decade on from his downfall, the oil-rich country remains mired in chaos and political gridlock.
Since the two countries share a porous desert border, the extremists based in Libya have, time and again, succeeded in carrying out attacks against Egyptian security forces and Christians.
In recent months, Egypt has engaged with Libya’s feuding parties to ensure that national elections are held in December as scheduled. Cairo believes a fair and transparent election will help put its war-torn neighbor on the path to stability and recovery.
Fahmy says there has been good progress on the Libya issue, but he doubts the elections scheduled for Dec. 24 by the country’s recently installed Government of National Unity will go ahead as planned. “I would love to be proven wrong,” he said.
Fahmy is well regarded after his years as a career diplomat and academic. He is the founding dean of the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy and Distinguished University Professor of Practice in International Diplomacy at the American University in Cairo. He has dedicated many years of study to Arab-Israeli diplomacy, making him a leading authority on the peace process.
Last summer, the UAE became the first Arab country to sign the Abraham Accords, a series of US-brokered diplomatic agreements inked between Israel and Arab states. The Aug. 13, 2020 signing marked the first time an Arab country had publicly established relations with Israel since Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994.
Although the agreements have shown potential, critics say they have done little to bring the Palestinians any closer to statehood. And while several governments have embraced the accords, the normalization of ties with Israel has been harder to sell to Arab publics.
“You can’t overemphasize that the Palestinian issue, per se, is a very emotional issue throughout the Arab world and therefore reactions to it tend to be very strong in either way,” Fahmy said.
“My point is the following — and I have said this to my Palestinian colleagues — I understand your concern, I understand your fear, but focus on building your case rather than on criticizing somebody. Because, in the case of those who signed the accords, even if we don’t agree with them, they have all committed to helping establish and support a Palestinian state.
“So, my recommendation to Arabs: Be a bit sensitive in the steps you take. You will have to face that this is sensitive, you will get some criticism.
“I would tell my Arab colleagues, I would tell the Palestinians, come up with ideas on how to move forward politically, and don’t let the political process die.”
Mona Makram Abed with President El-Sisi, Dec. 4 2016. (Facebook)
Given Egypt’s renewed assertiveness on the regional stage, Fahmy hopes other Arab countries will follow Egypt’s lead and come to the negotiating table to speak frankly about the way forward. “Arabs are lovely in their ability to agree. Our problem is our inability to disagree,” he said.
“Let me seize this occasion to call on Egypt and the Arab countries: We should all speak much more about our vision for the future, for the region, and what we want to see for the Middle East as a whole in concrete terms.
“We don’t have to agree, but we need to engage in a dialogue and let’s see how much agreement and how much disagreement we have. Because allowing others to set the agenda is very dangerous.”
02.10.2021
NOOR NUGALI
RIYADH: A trained aeronautical engineer, economist and professor of mathematics, Josep Borrell entered politics in the 1970s during Spain’s turbulent transition to democracy. Before he was appointed high representative of the European Union for foreign affairs in December 2019, he held a number of ministerial posts in the socialist governments of Felipe Gonzales.
In a blog post on Thursday, Borrell described his visit to Riyadh, with stops in Doha and Abu Dhabi, as an opportunity to explore the response to “significant political change” in “a dynamic region” and “develop new forms of cooperation” between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Below is the full transcript of an interview he gave to Arab News on the eve of his visit.
Q: Can you tell us about the main issues on the agenda of your visit to the GCC and, in particular, your meetings with the Saudi leadership?
A: Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE are very important partners for the EU. I already met or spoke to many of my counterparts from the Gulf, but this my first visit to the region as EU high representative.
My main objective is to advance the EU’s strategic cooperation with Gulf partners on global, regional and bilateral matters of common interest. This includes climate change, but also global access to vaccines and supporting the “green economy.”
I also want to stress the EU’s unwavering support for the ongoing normalization of relations within the Gulf family after a rift that lasted three long years and ended last January at the AlUla summit.
The GCC is one of our oldest partners. After more than 30 years of EU-GCC partnership, we should use the current momentum to give our cooperation a more strategic orientation.
In my meetings with Gulf partners in New York last week on the margins of the UN General Assembly, I shared my intention to convene a joint cooperation council at ministerial level early next year — during the Saudi presidency of the GCC.
My meetings in Riyadh will be an essential part of my visit. Saudi Arabia is an important actor on the global and multilateral stage, and I trust that its robust commitments at the upcoming COP26 will inspire other energy producers.
We will discuss how best to support Saudi Arabia’s domestic transformation and economic diversification, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030 and with the involvement of European companies.
With Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, I intend to sign a cooperation arrangement that reflects our mutual wish to further intensify our cooperation, and will be a useful instrument to do so.
Q: You recently met Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in New York. What assurances did he give you about Iran’s compliance with the 2015 nuclear pact?
A: As coordinator of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), I have always been clear: We must go back to full implementation of the deal, which means a return of the US into the agreement with the lifting of related US sanctions and Iran’s full compliance with its nuclear commitments.
The nuclear deal remains a key security achievement. Without it, Iran could have developed nuclear weapons by now, adding yet another source of instability to the region.
Obviously, I am concerned about the negative trajectory of Iranian nuclear activities. That is why it is crucial to resume negotiations in Vienna as soon as possible and from where we left off on June 20.
My message to Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian in New York City was simple: Diplomacy is the solution; let’s go back to Vienna without delay.
Borrell, seen here in September, told Arab News he was concerned about the negative trajectory of Iranian nuclear activities. (AFP/File Photo)
Q: Do you get a sense that the new Iranian government, despite its hardline reputation, wants to improve its relations with its Gulf Arab neighbors as well as the West?
A: Diplomacy offers the only real path to address the open issues in the Gulf and among neighbors. I cannot speak for the intentions of other governments, but I have noted more dialogue between countries in the region.
The Baghdad Conference (for Cooperation and Partnership) on August 28 and the bilateral talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran are such examples. These are welcome developments and I was happy to participate in the follow-up event to the conference in New York recently.
The EU is ready to support the countries in the Gulf region to build a shared sense of security and cooperation. In this sense, the (Iran) nuclear deal is also crucial.
I am still convinced that if we do manage to preserve the JCPOA and ensure its full implementation, it can become a stepping stone toward addressing other shared concerns, including those related to regional security.
Q: AUKUS — the recently formed trilateral security pact between Australia, the UK and the US — was badly received by some in the EU. How could it have been handled better?
A: There was clear disappointment in Europe about the way this issue was handled. We are friends and allies. And friends and allies talk to each other.
Since the announcement of AUKUS, we have talked to our US partners. I had a good meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken last month in New York City.
We now consider this situation clarified. Proof of this is the joint statement between (French) President (Emmanuel) Macron and US President (Joe) Biden, in which the US acknowledged that the situation would have benefited from open consultations among allies.
Josep Borrell used a blog post to describe his visit to Riyadh, with stops in Doha and Abu Dhabi for the World Policy Conference (pictured). (Supplied)
We now have to move forward. The EU and the US cannot afford to be divided. We are unique partners working side by side on many important global topics such as health and climate change, working for our democracies.
These recent events also clearly underline the strength of European unity and remind us once again of the need to reflect on how to build, strengthen and advance European strategic autonomy.
Europe must be more united in terms of security and defense. If the European Union pooled its defense capabilities, and avoided overlaps, we would be a lot more efficient in many of the world’s crises.
Q: The chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan has created an image of the West as uncoordinated, divided and unreliable. Do you think the solution lies in higher European defense spending instead of continued reliance on American firepower?
A: It is not a question of choosing one or the other, but, certainly, Afghanistan has shown in a striking way that deficiencies in EU capacity to act autonomously come at a price.
I want to be clear: Acting autonomously does not equal moving away from our transatlantic partnership. On the contrary, a stronger European Union in defense means a stronger partner for the US and for NATO. It means being more capable of acting together with partners wherever possible, and alone when necessary if our interests and values we stand for are at stake. The only way forward is to combine our forces and strengthen not only our capabilities, but also our will to act.
During his interview with Arab News, Borrell said Saudi Arabia remains an important actor on the global and multilateral stage. (AFP/File Photo)
This means enhancing our capacity to respond to hybrid challenges, covering key capability gaps, including logistic transport, raising the level of readiness through joint military training and developing new tools.
We have discussed these kinds of proposals for many years. I hope that, paired with recent developments, this will create enough common understanding of the challenges and threats we are facing to mobilize the common will of the member states.
Q: You have said there is still ‘a wide demand and compelling need for Europe to speak up and back up its positions with the instruments and forms of leverage we have.’ Has such an approach worked in Libya, for instance? Will it work with the Taliban?
A: Libya and Afghanistan are very different. With regard to Libya, the EU and its member states agree on the need to hold elections on December 24 and to implement the ceasefire agreement, including the withdrawal of all foreign forces. To this end, we have aligned a number of instruments, including technical support for elections and civilian missions in support of the ceasefire agreement and to implement the arms embargo.
Afghanistan finds itself at a crossroads after decades of conflict. We have to provide strong support to the Afghan people, including those present in the region. EU countries have set clear conditions that will determine the level of engagement with the Taliban. Talks with the Taliban are necessary to prevent a humanitarian tragedy and assist in the protection of the vulnerable.
Those talks do not equal recognition. This will be an operational engagement and how much we engage will depend on the behavior of this caretaker government.
Q: Do you think the EU and the GCC are more or less on the same page on the major Middle Eastern and Central Asian issues of the day — from Iran and Middle Eastern refugees to Yemen and Afghanistan?
A: I think we all are interested in the stability, security and well-being of our own citizens and our neighbors. This should be a common objective of all our efforts and cooperation.
When it comes to Yemen, the international community, including the GCC, is unanimous: We want to see an end to the fighting and to the suffering of the Yemeni people. I will engage thoroughly on Yemen during my (Riyadh) visit.
On Afghanistan there is a broad international consensus that the country cannot become an exporter of instability, terrorism and migration flows. And it is the countries in the region who are affected first by any negative spillover of the situation (in Afghanistan).
This is why the EU tries to engage and coordinate its engagement and activities with partners in affected regions. Big challenges can be effectively and sustainably solved only by joint efforts.
06.10.2021
The Qatari top diplomat discussed with Abu Dhabi’s crown prince “ways to enhance ties to serve the interests of their nations.”
Qatari foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani. (REUTERS)
DUBAI–Qatar’s foreign minister visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he met Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan on Wednesday, state news agency WAM reported, as the two Gulf states work on improving bilateral ties after years of a bitter rivalry.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani was received by the crown prince in Abu Dhabi and discussed “ways to enhance them (ties) to serve the interests of their nations,” WAM reported.
Wednesday’s meeting followed a similar visit in August by Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed al-Nayhan, UAE’s National Security Adviser and a brother of Sheikh Mohamed, to Doha where he met Qatar’s emir.
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt agreed in January to end the dispute that had led them to sever ties with Qatar in 2017 over accusations that Doha supported “terrorism”, a reference to Islamist groups. Doha denied the charges.
Riyadh and Cairo have led efforts to mend ties and appointed ambassadors to Qatar, while Abu Dhabi and Manama have yet to do so. All but Bahrain have restored travel and trade links.
The Gulf states have been pursuing a more moderate approach to defuse regional tensions, including with their rivals Iran and Turkey, as the United States reduced its military power in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE rely heavily on Washington for their security.
Earlier last week, Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, told a conference in Abu Dhabi that there was uncertainty about the United States commitment to the region and concern over a “looming cold war” between Washington and Beijing.
He said the UAE is trying to manage long-running rivalries with Iran and Turkey through dialogue to avoid any new confrontations in the region as the Arab Gulf state homes in on its economy post COVID-19.
“We will see in the coming period really what is going on with regards to America’s footprint in the region. I don’t think we know yet, but Afghanistan is definitely a test and to be honest it is a very worrying test,” Gargash said.
“Part of what we need to do is manage our region better. There is a vacuum and whenever there is a vacuum, there is trouble,” he told the World Policy Conference.
The UAE has moved to reduce tensions by engaging with Qatar, Iran and Turkey, whose influence it had moved to counter in conflicts in Yemen, Libya and elsewhere in the region.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia believe the 2015 nuclear pact was flawed for not addressing Iran’s missiles programme and its network of regional proxies. The UAE has also moved to combat Islamist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood which Gulf states see as a threat to their dynastic system of rule.
“Turkey’s recent re-examination of its policies towards Egypt, the Brotherhood and towards Saudi Arabia and others is very welcome. And I think for us to come mid-way and reach out is very important,” Gargash said.
“The Turks have been very positive about what we are saying to them,” he said. “Am I very positive about the reach out to Iran? Yes I am. Am I very positive that Iran will change its regional course? I have to say I am more realistic here, but I am betting Iran is also concerned about vacuum and escalation.”
Gargash said the pandemic placed non-political priorities at the forefront and that a main concern now was being caught in between the United States and China.
“We are all worried very much by a looming cold war. That is bad news for all of us, because the idea of choosing is problematic in the international system, and I think this is not going to be an easy ride,” he said.
*Prime Minister Edi Rama’s address at formal opening ceremony of World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi:
Dear friends!
As you can imagine, I am among the tallest prime ministers in the world and therefore the temptation to talk about the world is so big, but my country is among the smallest in the world. So, the need to talk about it very big too.
I would try to resist the temptation and fulfil this need without being boring and I hope for your patience to have a certain success.
I very much believe that the globalization is here to stay as long as we live in the same planet, as long as we are warmed under the same sun, as long as dependence on deepening our interconnections has become unstoppable.
Our genuine interest in beyond the borders cooperation is growing bigger despite the reluctances and rejections and multilateralism is and will remain the instrument for cooperation.
The problems we are dealing with today are increasingly more inter-related. Let’s us consider the climate change and, by the way, you all know that global warming is not just a climate issue; it is a development issue, it is a security issue, an issue that affects the strength or the weakening of the world peace as a whole and peace in various regions. It is an issue with a long-term impact. Therefore, the more effectively we deal with it, the better to prevent the natural disasters, fires, floods, prolonged drought, rising water levels, loss of land etcetera.
The COVID-19 pandemic of today, a global issue, has taken so many lives compared to the losses in the world wars. Are we able as isolated nations to fight this plague of modern time?
We saw it and the answer is of course, we are not. The same logic, in my view, applies to the security issue, the fight against international terrorism, the cyber war, to the drinking water and food supply to all, to the goals for a sustainable and long-term development with the aim of leaving no one behind and so on and so forth.
At these times of global challenges, which are also times for trust challenges, a global approach is required. The commitment of all of us within the structures we have set up is required. And for sure, adapting these structures to meet the today’s challenges is a must and not in a homogeneous but rather in a harmonic way, I might say.
Albania believes that the renewal of a profound commitment to impact this multilateralism is more necessary than ever before for us to deliver on peace, democracy, the human rights and development. Within this frame, we strongly support the vision and the ambitious reform agenda of the United Nations system and that of the Security Council as well. With a firm commitment to the principles of multilateralism, Albania successfully chaired the OSCE last year, providing a lasting contribution to peace, human rights and equality.
Under our leadership, the OSCE Ministerial Council agreed on several new commitments on combating transnational organized crime, countering corruption and preventing torture in the OSCE area. We delivered much needed progress in all dimensions of the OSCE security and as a believer in multilateralism at a global level, Albania will for the first time in its UN membership history be a member of the UN Security Council for the term 2022-2023. Fully aware of the responsibilities trusted upon us by the United Nations family, we will bring to the Security Council the perspective of a small country, with a constructive foreign policy and a consistent commitment to multilateralism. With a group of like-minded people we have undertaken to launch a treaty against the pandemic, in order to face successfully such costly pandemic situations.
We are also concerned about the negative consequences of the infodemic in the context of COVID-19, which can heighten the risk of conflicts, violence, human rights violation and the mass atrocities.
We need greater integration for the sustainable development agenda, peace and security and as well as human rights. Albania considers that achievement of the sustainable development goals and implementation of the 2030 Agenda is a shared responsibility.
We are in a full track with the European Union’s policies and the international documents and the decision to develop the energy sector in full harmony and friendly with the environment.
The Albanian government has started to reform its power sector since 2014 through actions undertaken to complete the legal and regulatory framework in compliance with the European Union’s third pacage on energy and in full compliance with the EU directives on energy. We are focused on diversification of the power generation always based on the renewable, like water, sun and wind. This will definitely reduce the country’s high dependency on the weather conditions as currently almost all the production is based on hydro sources. The government is developing the new national energy and climate plan according to the new policy guidelines and the energy community agenda on decarbonisation in the energy sector. This plan projects power generation based on the domestic installed capacities for the period 2021-2030. So Albania is expected to become a net electricity exporter within this decade. However, talking about the challenges of our times in this city, I can’t avoid speaking about the role model of the United Arab Emirates regarding peace, multilateral cooperation and human solidarity. The signature of the Abraham Accords between the United Arab Emirates and Israel was a shockingly positive development of discontinuity with ages of a stalemate of one of the longest and deepest conflicts in our world, undertaking a huge step towards reaching out to the historical enemy. UAE lead by example towards a completely new direction of addressing the future, not by forgetting the past, but by looking forward to the future. And by doing so, making the future the basis of dealing with the past and not let the past anymore dictate the future. This major development in the history of peace-making is a true source of inspiration for the world, as well as for us in the Balkan region, where so for a long time bloody wars and conflicts have prevented people of different nations from seeing themselves as humans and deal with each other humanely.
On the other hand, we in Albania have experienced first-hand the UAE human solidarity in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in November 2019, when 15,000 families lost their homes in less than a minute. His Highness Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed was among the first among a vast number of international leaders, who expressed their solidarity, not just through words, but also through their deeds and thanks to Him and the government of UAE a brand new residential neighbourhood is being built for the families that lost everything in that tragedy.
I am very proud to conclude my speech by telling you that Albania stood strong in protection of the Afghan people at risk following the course of events in Afghanistan and the spirit of solidarity I talked about a little while ago, Albanian government took right away the decision to host up to 4000 Afghan citizens in Albania. It is a very big number compared to much bigger and richer countries, whose contribution didn’t reach the bar of the challenge. During all these days, many people have asked me “why?” And my answer is very simple: first of all, by doing so we honour our history and our tradition. One of the most beautiful pages of our history has been the salvation of Jews during World War II, when Albania was the only country in Europe with more Jews after the war than before it, because not a single Jew was handed over to the Nazis.
Secondly, we may not be rich, but our memory can’t be short. We were the Afghans just 30 years ago, when leaving our own hell, escaping our own Taleban, who were not Islamic fundamentalists, but they were fundamentalists of Stalin, back then we had to cross the sea and appear on the shores of Italy and Europe like aliens of which nobody knew how we looked like. And if we were not to be provided sheltered and given help and hope 30 years ago, we wouldn’t be here today, a country with the EU candidate status, aspiring to become one of the Union members.
And thirdly, and probably most importantly, we did it because we owe it to our children. They shouldn’t be raised in an environment, where they are told to shut the door, to live in fear, and to turn the back to those in need. They should learn by deeds, not by words, that in this life there is a time to ask and there is a time to give. Thank you very much!
*Simultaneous interpretation
Read the speech on the Albanian Prime Minister’s Office website
21.10.2021
アラブ首長国連邦（UAE）のアブダビで10月上旬、著名シンクタンクのフランス国際関係研究所（IFRI）が主催する国際会議「世界政策会議（WPC）」が開かれた。産官学の登壇者が議論の中心としたのは米中の覇権争いで、世界のデカップリング（分断）がビジネスに及ぼす影響の行方についても発言が相次いだ。
世界政策会議は2021年で14回目。約300人が参加し、スイス・ダボス会議のようにテーマごとに議論する形…
Article for subscribers only
20.10.2021
欧州中央銀行（ECB）のジャンクロード・トリシェ元総裁は、新型コロナウイルス対策によってフランスや南欧で政府債務残高が急増していることに「コロナ禍が終わったら、目に見える形で債務を減らしていかなければいけない」と警鐘を鳴らした。先進国の債務は高止まりするとの見方があり、次の経済危機の火種になり得るとして危機感を示した。
シンクタンクのフランス国際関係研究所（IFRI）が主催する「世界政策会議」（W…
Article for subscribers only
06.10.2021
Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, ministre d’État, a reçu Patrick Achi, Premier ministre de Côte d’Ivoire, pour discuter des moyens de renforcer les relations bilatérales et d’une multitude de questions d’intérêt mutuel. Le Premier ministre ivoirien est à Abou Dhabi pour participer à la World Policy Conference. Sheikh Shakhbout a déclaré que les relations entre les Émirats arabes unis (ÉAU) et la Côte d’Ivoire progressaient régulièrement, notant un énorme potentiel et des opportunités pour les faire avancer dans le meilleur intérêt des deux pays.
Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, ministre d’État, a reçu Patrick Achi, Premier ministre de Côte d’Ivoire, pour discuter des moyens de renforcer les relations bilatérales et d’une multitude de questions d’intérêt mutuel.
Le Premier ministre ivoirien est à Abou Dhabi pour participer à la World Policy Conference.
Sheikh Shakhbout a déclaré que les relations entre les Émirats arabes unis (ÉAU) et la Côte d’Ivoire progressaient régulièrement, notant un énorme potentiel et des opportunités pour les faire avancer dans le meilleur intérêt des deux pays.
Pour sa part, Patrick Achi a exprimé sa fierté de la relation forte qui lie son pays aux Émirats Arabes Unis, soulignant qu’il existe de nombreuses opportunités de faire avancer les relations bilatérales.
A l’ouverture de la 14ème édition de la World Policy Conference, le 1er octobre 2021 à Abu Dhabi (Émirats Arabes Unis), le Premier Ministre ivoirien, Patrick Achi, a plaidé pour un financement important des économies africaines.
« Les pays du continent sont dans une situation post-Covid encore plus exigeante avec la baisse tendancielle de la croissance. Il faut permettre aux pays africains d’accéder à des ressources de grande ampleur et à faible coût », a déclaré Patrick Achi.
Selon le Chef du gouvernement, ces ressources permettront d’investir dans les secteurs sociaux et dans les infrastructures, afin de créer un écosystème favorable à l’accélération du développement de l’Afrique.
Source : CICG GouvCI
02.10.2021
Abidjan, le 02 octobre 2021 – A l’ouverture de la 14ème édition de la World Policy Conference, le 1er octobre 2021 à Abu Dhabi (Émirats Arabes Unis), le Premier Ministre ivoirien, Patrick Achi, a plaidé pour un financement important des économies africaines.
« Les pays du continent sont dans une situation post-Covid encore plus exigeante avec la baisse tendancielle de la croissance. Il faut permettre aux pays africains d’accéder à des ressources de grande ampleur et à faible coût », a déclaré Patrick Achi.
Selon le Chef du gouvernement, ces ressources permettront d’investir dans les secteurs sociaux et dans les infrastructures, afin de créer un écosystème favorable à l’accélération du développement de l’Afrique.
Lire l’article sur le portail officiel du gouvernement de Côte d’Ivoire
01.10.2021
Abidjan, le 1er octobre 2021 – Le Premier Ministre, Patrick Achi, s’est rendu le 30 septembre 2021, à Abu Dhabi (Émirats arabes unis) pour prendre part à la 14ème édition de la World Policy Conference (WPC) qui se tient du 1er au 3 octobre 2021
Patrick Achi qui représentera le Président Alassane Ouattara prononcera un discours à cette importante rencontre qui réunit les décideurs et chercheurs de haut niveau du monde.
Cette réunion a pour but d’aider tous les publics concernés à porter une réflexion éclairée à une époque de bouleversements incessants.
Créée en 2008, la World Policy Conference a pour mission de contribuer à promouvoir un monde plus ouvert, plus prospère et plus juste. Cela suppose un effort permanent pour comprendre la réalité des forces en jeu et leurs interactions, et pour réfléchir à l’adaptation pacifique de l’organisation des rapports interétatiques à tous les niveaux, dans le respect de la culture et des intérêts fondamentaux de chaque nation.
Le Président de la République a participé à la 5ème édition de la World Policy Conference à Cannes, en 2012. Et y a été représenté par feu le Premier Ministre Amadou Gon Coulibaly aux 11ème et 12ème éditions en 2018 et 2019.
Lire l’article sur le portail officiel du gouvernement de Côte d’Ivoire
18.10.2021
Chronique par Sophie Fay
On a longtemps cru que la technologie et la finance devaient nous sortir par le haut de la crise climatique, sans trop de douleur ou de décroissance. Mais de récentes études ont démontré que ça n’était pas si simple…
Etonnante scène à la World Policy Conference début octobre. Comme tous les ans, ce raout réunissait des responsables politiques, diplomates, chercheurs ou économistes plutôt « solutionnistes », convaincus que la technologie et la finance devraient nous sortir par le haut de la crise climatique, sans trop de douleur ou de décroissance. L’édition 2021 de la conférence se tenait à Abu Dhabi où, plus que partout ailleurs, on s’accroche à ce dogme. Or, dès la première table ronde, patatras ! Bertrand Badré, ancien directeur financier de la Société générale, du Crédit agricole puis de la Banque mondiale, connu pour être l’un des premiers apôtres de la finance verte, a douché tous les espoirs de l’assistance :
« Au moment de l’accord de Paris, en 2015, on pensait qu’avec quelques milliers de milliards d’euros par an dédiés à la transition climatique, la main invisible du marché permettrait de freiner le réchauffement en douceur. Mais force est de constater que ça ne suffit pas. L’objectif est en réalité […]
Article réservé aux abonnés
07.10.2021
By Nicolas Beau
La 14e édition annuelle de la conférence sur la gouvernance mondiale (World Policy Conférence, WPC), qui s’est tenue le week-end dernier à Abou Dhabi à l’initiative de l’Institut français des Relations internationales (IFRI), a consacré l’un de ses ateliers de travail à la situation du continent africain, gravement menacé par un jihadisme islamique qui gagne du terrain.
Abou Dhabi de Michel Touma
La 14e édition de la conférence internationale sur la gouvernance mondiale, organisée par l’Institut français des Relations internationales (IFRI), a achevé ses travaux dans la soirée de dimanche dernier, 3 octobre, au terme de trois journées intenses de conférences, de tables rondes et de débats qui se sont tenus à l’Emirates Palace d’Abou Dhabi (Emirats arabes unis).
Ces assises, qui ont regroupé près de 200 personnalités de haut-rang venues des quatre coins de la planète, ont été marquées par nombre d’interventions importantes dont, notamment, celle de la secrétaire générale de l’Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), Louise Mushikiwabo (du Rwanda), qui a notamment exposé la ligne de conduite de l’OIF, mettant l’accent sur la dimension socio-politique de l’action de l’organisation francophone.
Soulignant que l’OIF comprend 88 pays, dont 33 du continent africain et 19 membres de l’Union européenne, Mme Mushikiwabo a indiqué que sa démarche dans le cadre de sa fonction, qu’elle a prise en charge le 1er janvier 2019, repose sur trois piliers : l’égalité entre l’homme et la femme ; le devenir des jeunes ; et le développement du secteur numérique. La responsable de l’OIF a relevé en outre que les relations entre les pays du Sud sont aujourd’hui régies, plus particulièrement, par les problèmes de sécurité.
La menace terroriste
Les questions en rapport avec la sécurité ont été surtout soulevées au cours d’un atelier de travail consacré à la situation de l’Afrique, sous l’angle des enjeux et défis auxquels est confronté le continent africain.
Le vice-président de l’Assemblée nationale du Sénégal et ancien ministre des Affaires étrangères, cheikh Tidiane Gadio (également président de l’Institut panafricain de Stratégies, Paix-Sécurité-Gouvernance), a titré la sonnette d’alarme concernant le danger sécuritaire qui plane sur l’Afrique, relevant que le terrorisme entretenu par les courants jihadistes islamiques ne cessent de gagner du terrain dans certaines zones d’Afrique. « La mouvance islamiste s’est fixée pour objectif de proclamer d’ici 2025 le califat islamique » dans les régions que les jihadistes auront conquises dans le continent africain, a affirmé cheikh Gadio qui a souligné que « le terrorisme est le danger premier qui plane sur l’Afrique ».
Stigmatisant en des termes très sévères les exactions commises à diverses occasions par les jihadistes, le responsable sénégalais a déclaré sur ce plan que « ce qui se passe en Afrique est inacceptable ». « Nous ne pourrons pas développer le continent sans régler au préalable le problème de la sécurité », a-t-il ajouté. Il a vivement stigmatisé à cet égard le laxisme et le silence des instances panafricaines. « C’est l’absence de leadership au niveau du continent qui est responsable de la situation actuelle, a-t-il lancé. L’un des principaux problèmes est l’absence de leadership. Aucun pays africain n’émerge réellement. Il est devenu nécessaire de créer de nouveaux organismes, de nouvelles institutions panafricaines car les institutions actuelles ont atteint leur niveau d’incompétence ».
Un diagnostic largement partagé
Le point de vue de cheikh Gadio a été partagé par d’anciens hauts responsables officiels africains participant à l’atelier de travail. L’ancien Premier ministre du Bénin, Lionel Zinsou, a ainsi confirmé que le danger terroriste s’aggrave du fait que les courants jihadistes gagnent effectivement du terrain. Il a reconnu par ailleurs l’inefficacité des institutions panafricaines, dont l’Organisation de l’Unité africaine (OUA). Il a tenu toutefois à apporter une certaine note quelque peu optimiste, malgré tout, précisant que le taux de croissance dans certains pays africains est assez élevé (entre 5 et 7 pour cent). « Nous avons assisté à un progrès majeur sur le plan de la gouvernance depuis la pandémie », a notamment déclaré dans ce cadre Lionel Zinsou.
Les problèmes de sécurité, perçus sous l’angle de l’instabilité politique, ont été évoqués également par l’ancien ministre des Affaires étrangères et ancien président de la Cour constitutionnelle du Bénin, Robert Dossou (actuellement président de l’Association africaine de droit international), qui a dénoncé « les putschs qui se poursuivent en Afrique, malgré la position officielle de l’OUA qui rejette de telles actions ». Il a d’autre part relevé, en se livrant à une digression, que « les Emirats arabes unis sont sans doute l’un des rares pays au monde à avoir créé un ministère de la tolérance et de la coexistence ».
Un point de vue européen
L’ancien présidente de la commission des Affaires étrangères à l’Assemblée nationale française et présidente de la fondation Anna Lindh pour le dialogue des cultures euro-méditerranéennes, Elisabeth Guigou, a exposé de son côté un point de vue européen sur la situation du continent africain, soulignant qu’il fallait aborder des questions concrètes à ce propos. « L’Afrique et l’Union européenne, a-t-elle déclaré, sont confrontées à des défis communs, et il est nécessaire de ce fait d’œuvrer ensemble afin de relever ces défis ».
Mme Guigou a indiqué dans ce contexte que « le nombre de jeunes qui arriveront sur le marché de l’emploi en Afrique sera deux fois plus grand que le nombre d’offres d’emploi ». « Tout dépendra de l’industrialisation, a-t-elle souligné dans ce cadre. Il faut promouvoir les investissements privés pour développer l’industrie et le marché de l’emploi à l’adresse des jeunes ».
Abondant dans le même sens, l’ancienne Premier ministre du Sénégal Aminata Touré a, elle aussi, mis l’accent sur l’importance de l’industrialisation dans l’optique d’une politique de développement du continent africain. « L’Afrique, qui regroupe 54 pays, est un continent très diversifié, a-t-elle relevé. Nous sommes confrontés à des défis communs, tels que les problèmes de développement. L’Afrique est un continent jeune, ce qui est un atout important. C’est un continent qui crée de la richesse et nous devons de ce fait commercer entre nous ».
Mme Touré a prôné, d’une manière plus spécifique, le développement d’une industrie pharmaceutique africaine. « Le confinement a montré que nous pouvons gérer nous-mêmes notre quotidien au plan sanitaire », a-t-elle souligné, mettant l’accent sur le fait que la pandémie n’a pas provoqué « l’hécatombe que l’on craignait, en dépit de notre système de santé déficient ». « Nous avons adopté avant les autres pays les mesures préventives nécessaires », a-t-elle indiqué, avant de mettre en évidence certaines avancées en termes de développement social, notamment pour ce qui a trait à l’éducation des filles.
L’ancienne responsable sénégalaise a déploré dans ce cadre le fait que les dirigeants africains ne savent pas « faire connaître nos succès ». « L’Afrique a une politique de communication lamentable », a dénoncé en conclusion Mme Touré. Une constatation qui pourrait se résumer en deux mots : l’Afrique, cette inconnue …
12.10.2021
La délégation des talibans a rencontré des dirigeants du Qatar, médiateur agrée entre Kaboul et Washington, avant de rencontrer leurs homologues américains à Doha ce week-end. (EPN/Newscom/SIPA)
Deux mois après la chute de Kaboul, les pays du G20 réunis mardi pour un sommet dédié à la situation en Afghanistan doivent trancher des questions difficiles. Faut-il maintenir l’aide à la population afghane alors que l’hiver approche ? Est-il opportun de reconnaître officiellement le régime taliban ? En échange de quelles garanties ?
Invité de France Inter la semaine dernière, Emmanuel Macron a évoqué la nécessité de poser «nos conditions à la reconnaissance des talibans ». Cela concerne aussi bien les Européens que les Américains, la Chine, la Russie, les grandes puissances d’Afrique, d’Asie Pacifique et d’Amérique latine, a-t-il précisé. Par ses propos, il ouvre la porte à une possible reconnaissance du régime.
Si les talibans y aspirent, ils ont peu de moyens de tenir d’éventuelles promesses. Le nouveau régime est encore instable, avec plusieurs forces rivales en son sein et il est également menacé par Daech, réseau djihadiste international rival d’Al-Qaida, qui est resté proche des talibans. Lundi, à Kaboul, une nouvelle alerte était donnée en raison de menaces d’attentats sur les hôtels de la capitale. Vendredi, plus de 55 personnes ont été tuées dans un attentat suicide dans une mosquée chiite de Kunduz revendiqué par la branche locale de Daech.
Pour la première fois ce week-end, les Etats-Unis ont repris langue avec les talibans au Qatar pour aborder les questions sécuritaires, l’aide humanitaire américaine et les droits humains, en particulier l’intégration des femmes et des filles dans la société afghane. La délégation américaine a rappelé « que les talibans seraient jugés sur leurs actions, pas seulement leurs paroles ». «Une question centrale touche à la rupture tangible des liens avec Al-Qaida», rappelle Marc Hecker, auteur de « La guerre de vingt ans » avec Elie Tenenbaum.
Si la Chine, l’Iran et la Russie sont toujours présents en Afghanistan, la plupart des pays ont pris leur distance et personne n’a reconnu le nouveau régime. L’Inde est très inquiète de l’influence du Pakistan, dont les services secrets ISI sont réputés être le véritable parrain des talibans. Et Moscou, qui a toujours maintenu le dialogue, s’inquiète d’une contagion terroriste dans les pays limitrophes de l’Afghanistan qui sont sous son influence. « La Russie n’aime pas les régimes religieux. Si elle reconnaît les talibans, c’est une cartouche qu’elle ne peut tirer qu’une fois », a observé la chercheuse de l’Ifri Tatiana Kastouéva-Jean, lors de la World Policy Conference début octobre à Abou Dhabi. Pour le commissaire européen à la justice Didier Reynders, également présent à la WPC, « il faudrait continuer l’aide humanitaire et s’en servir pour faire respecter les droits de l’homme ». Des émissaires européens vont rencontrer les talibans pour la première fois ce mardi.
Ceux-ci ont d’autant plus besoin de cette aide qu’ils peinent à faire repartir l’économie. L’aide internationale, qui représente les trois quarts des recettes publiques, n’arrive plus qu’au compte-gouttes, car les Occidentaux, de loin les principaux bailleurs, veulent obtenir la garantie qu’elle bénéficiera aux 38 millions d’Afghans et non au seul régime. Les avoirs internationaux du pays, évalués à 9 milliards de dollars, sont gelés et les caisses de la Banque centrale sont vides, pour des raisons en partie antérieures à l’arrivée au pouvoir des talibans. Au vu de la pénurie de devises et de liquidités, les autorités ont limité les retraits bancaires. Les fonctionnaires ne sont plus payés depuis des mois, le système de santé est au bord de l’effondrement et un tiers de la population afghane est menacé de famine, selon les Nations unies. Les prix du blé et du riz flambent depuis deux mois.
Malgré divers gisements prometteurs, mais peu exploités, de métaux, l’Afghanistan, peu doté en industries, est un des pays les plus pauvres du monde avec un PIB par habitant inférieur à 500 dollars. Il figure parmi les dix pays les plus mal classés de la planète selon de nombreux indicateurs, dont le développement, la mortalité infantile, l’espérance de vie et l’alphabétisation.
Virginie Robert et Yves Bourdillon