Fes Forum gives reform recommendations, laud Arab Spring

The Eighth Fes Forum on the Alliance of Civilisations The Eighth Fes Forum on the Alliance of Civilisations, Cultural Diversity, and the Mediterranean Partnership, entitled (Youth and Globalization challenges) has issued 15 recommendations to meet Arab needs.
According to the recommendations, current events in the Arab political scene for could provide an opportunity to the democratic transition, if reposed as required and steps taken towards democracy restoration.
In addition, the closing statement of the Forum stressed the needs for equitable distribution of wealth.
The Forum participants, who represented the four continents, also called for protecting and supporting the “freedom to communicate through the new technologies, especially the Internet.”
The closing statement also paid a tribute to Moroccan political experience and its democratic transition.
More details about the 15 recommendations of the?? Eighth Fes Forum are as following:

1.      Establishing a democratic system requires a cultural development for peaceful competition and rejection of the tyranny of one-party ruling.

2.      The on-going events in the Arab countries could be an opportunity for democratic transition, if it was reposed as required and provided the needs for democracy restoration, which requires freedom of expression, political pluralism, separation of powers and people's participation in decision-making by free and fair elections.
3.      The Forum participants warned of the economic challenges in the Arab world, which may be a real threat to the democratic transition, and it has to be dealt by national consensus and popular mobilisation, which should be based on democratic culture, equitable distribution of wealth and peaceful transfer of power.
4.      They paid a tribute to Moroccan political experience and its democratic transition, and emphasised the special character of the Moroccan experience in the democratic transition which began after responding to the people demands by forming the new constitution then adopting multi-party elections.
5.      They stressed the needs of the youth’s role in the democratic transition; they also called for educational reforms to adapt with the job market in order to overcome the problem of unemployment, and demanded cooperation between the Mediterranean countries in view of their common destiny.
6.      To protect and support the freedom to communicate through the technologies especially the internet.
7.      They stress the role of civil society, especially youth organisation to create a climate of political changes and community development through fidelity to national identity and openness to others.
8.      The peaceful ways, such as constitutional and political reforms are effective in the democratic transition, as they keep balance within the community and work to avoid fragmentation and internal division.
9.      Stressing the needs of cooperation between different countries, especially the north Mediterranean countries, which should include achieving social progress, especially in education, training and acquiring professional skills.
10.  Calling for accelerating the establishment of the Euro-Mediterranean University in Fes, after ratification by all Mediterranean countries on November 2008 in Marseille.
11.  Stressing the needs to launch intellectual forums for all spectra of young people to mainstream dialogue and integration of youth in the areas of decision making and responsibility.
12.  Emphasising the political parties’ role to transform community demands to political demands, especially in the Arab world, and open their doors to all young people to mainstream responsibility, citizenship and prepare them for working in public affairs.
13.  Stressing the needs of providing trust between the individuals and institutions, political parties and the state.
14.  The need to create mechanisms to achieve sustainable development and protect the environment from pollution.
15.  Creating the Global Observatory for Youth and development, as they are the most important factors for the entire world, and stressing the needs of cooperation between the countries and the international organisations in order to achieve economic and social development.