Gulf academic discussions in Manama to enhance reform in the Gulf states

Academics, researchers, and former officials from the Arab Gulf states took part in a forum which opened yesterday in Manama, Bahrain, dedicated to discuss enhancing reforms in the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The "development forum" which lasts for two days and includes intellectuals, researchers and former officials in the 6 Arab gulf states, started its first session of the 25th meeting in Manama by discussing a work-paper under the title "authority in the Arab Gulf area," by the United Arab Emirate researcher, Muhammad Obeid Ghabbash.

Organizers of the forum chose the issue of "the fundamental reform, an internal look," as a focal point for the discussions which dealt with topics related to reforms including "production disorder reforms," and "dealing with security violation in the GCC," "democracy and human rights and promotion of the civil society," and "requirements to achieving a fundamental reform from the inside."

A work- paper submitted by the coordinator of this academic meeting, by Qatari citizen, Ali Khaleifa al-Kawari, said that the "agenda of a fundamental reform from inside is ambitious," noting that it embodies today "a national outlet from a mislead track, pursued by certain societies in the region." Al-Kawari added that "reform is still an urgent need," noting that "demanding reforms has not been stopped along one century, but were foiled and contained by security efforts."

The "development forum" established in 1979, in Kuwait, by a group of Gulf academics, and despite the fact that the forum does not win the recognition of any of the six Gulf states, yet continued to convene annual meetings in the sort of workshops and forums, only in Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. Its activities were stumbled in the 1990s.