Interview: Charles- Ferinand Nothomb on economic development in the Arab states
Regional, Analysis, 2/19/2001

"What I hear since I arrive in Syria, about its evolution and the intention of change is positive and for us coming from Europe a change of rules in the economic sphere will help to promote your prosperity like it helped us since we did it in the EU," said Charles- Ferinand Nothomb, Belgian Minister of State and the secretary General of the European Institute for Research on Mediterranean and Euro- Arab co-operation in a statement to Arabic News.

He said that the European Institute for research on Mediterranean and Euro-Arab Co-operation ( MEDEA Institute) is a non- profit association under Belgian law created in July 1995.

He added that the main objectives of this institute is to facilitate exchange of information and ideas between politicians, academics, journalists and concerned NGOs; to promote independent and objective analysis and to communicate research findings to opinion and political decision makers, in particular members of the European Parliament, in order to make a substantial contribution to co-operation, development and stability in the Mediterranean region and in Euro- Arab relations in general.

Among the Institute's recent developments in carried out activities Mr. Nothomb noted that an increasing number of people consults the political and economic fact sheets on their website.


He added : "so the purpose is to give better information on the evolution in the two regions of the world, with the beginning of the 21st century as the times comes to a mutual comprehension and knowledge." He added that his visit to Syria was part of a visit to Lebanon where he attended a multilateral conference in Euro- Investment held on February 13- 16 in Beirut. He added that the conference was attended by representatives from European and Arab states and the topics were how to promote investment from Europe to the Arab states. It is organized by the European- Arab Center in Paris ( CEEA).

He elaborated that the situation is that there is no much investments from Europe in the Arab countries, but also no so much investment from the rich Arab states in the other Arab countries. He said that a sum of US D 800 billion from Arab countries is invested in the US and Europe, noting that "therefore the problem of investment is not only from Europe to Arab countries. It is a problem of people who have money to invest in Arab countries and the conclusion here is that the investor could be ready to invest in countries but you have to make reforms in the economic system for that purpose." He noted the need of more freedom for management, the ability to transfer earning outside the country because the purpose is to call in people into the country and also the International business people to have the freedom in decisions and not to be too much under the bureaucracy of laws, obliging them to much controls.

He noted that the rules in Europe are known, and the basic rules are the same in the 15 countries of the European Union Member states. They are stable. There is a court of justice that obliges the state to respect the rules. hence Mr. Nothomb indicated two things: The laws are respected, noting that in the EU "we have common rules for the 15 EU member states and there is a common law on economic affairs, so the state is not above the law." He said there is, therefore, a need of information, capacity of management, educational system, skills of people at all levels.

Mr Nothomb said that at Beirut conferences all these views were expressed by a lot of prominent Arab personalities. The participants stressed better knowledge of each other and from the different way of thinking and culture. For the Arab leaders to know about the functioning of the EU rules and realities because they are 15 countries and one Union and on the other side, European leaders have a lot to learn about the culture and problems of the Arab countries. Mr Nothomb added: "this introduces our institute which tries to facilitate and promote a better knowledge of the Arab world in Europe and from the European Union in Arab Countries." On ways of conveying their message of interaction between Europe and the Arab states, Mr Nothomb made it clear : "we think we may use the Internet tool to exchange basic information and also to know about the evolution of things."

He added "we publish fact sheets on the Internet about Arab countries in French and English and we publish every Thursday one fact ­sheet in Arabic about what happened in Brussels in the European Union."

He added that the aim of his visit is to launch again the activity and: "for me this is my first visit to Damascus where I am looking for contacts with similar centers and institutes in order to exchange information and services," noting "we are looking for knowledge and we try to transmit our knowledge to the other side."

He expressed happiness to to be in Syria and to meet with high ranking Syrian officials: the foreign minister Farouk al-Shara, the minister of Planning Issam al-Zaem, the deputy foreign minister Mrs Siba Nasser who was a very good Syrian ambassador in Brussels, the minister of Higher education and the president of Damascus university.

On not having a united European policy towards the ME, Mr. Nothomb said: "You must understand that the EU is not one state, with one minister of foreign affairs. It is a Union of 15 states, who are independent, who have their own culture, interest and only at this moment trying to have a common position in foreign policy." However, he added: "We are united in a series of topics. For instance, economically there is a common agricultural policy."

But have differences in many other issues. For instance, only 11 out of the EU 15 member states are united in EURO. The countries which did not joint the EURO are the UK, Sweden, Denmark..). Beside many EU members are still not in NATO, namely Ireland, Sweden, Finland and Austria.

He added this is to show there could be differences. "We are united in topics for which we decided together to be united and for instance we all agree to help the Palestinian Authorities to survive economically, but we are not united in all topics relating to foreign affairs, including certain topics regarding the relations with Israel and the Middle East."

Nothomb wished peace and stability in the area so that reforms to come to produce good effects for the economy and also for the people.

He said: "We think that the economic freedom is better to develop in a state living under the rules of modern laws and free access to information. And it is a reason why I am happy to answer your questions." Worthy mentioning that Mr. Charles- Ferdinand Nothomb is a doctor in law, a PH.D in economical sciences. He started as a professor in different universities in Belgium. Then he became member of parliament for the first time in 1968 for 32 years until 1999. He was also a minister for foreign affairs in Belgium in 1980-1981 and then became a deputy prime minister and the minister of the Interior.

Nothomb was also elected as member of the EU parliament in July 1978, but quitted when he became a minister for foreign affairs in Belgium.

After he was a minister of the Interior, he became also the speaker of the Belgian parliament. He is now a minister of State since 1995 and became the secretary General of MEDEA Institute in July, 2000.

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