Dutch diplomat: western news reports about Arab world very negative

A former Dutch diplomat Petra Stienen says she has published her new book "Other Arab Voices" to portray the new awareness emerging in the Arab world. "The Western media have become increasingly negative in their reporting about the Arab revolutions and their fall-out. Of course, some developments are disturbing, the revolutions' promises have not yet been realised. But I come back from every trip to the region, feeling optimistic," she said in an interview published Sunday on the website of Radio Netherlands Worldwide. "A new generation has emerged which wants change. It's prepared to enter into a dialogue with others and look critically at itself. There's a new awareness throughout the population, and people are determined to hold their politicians to account if they don't fulfil their promises. I see this new mentality not only among secular liberals, but also among Islamists. I wanted to show that in this book," she said. Stienen served at the Dutch embassies in Syria and Egypt for nearly a decade. In 2008, her book "Dreams of an Arab spring" was met with widespread acclaim in the Netherlands, said the Dutch radio. She cited the demonstrations against the anti-Islam film that was made in the US as a good example of biased western media coverage. "In Egypt and Libya, the protests were relatively small, but they received extensive coverage in the Western media. But there was almost no reporting about the peaceful demonstrations in Egypt and Libya," she said.  Asked about the concerns in Europe about Islamic groups playing a prominent role in the region, she replied that "democracy is about people's right to determine their own future. If Egyptians and Tunisians do that by voting for parties which we disapprove of, then we just have to accept that." "We have to be more flexible when it comes to the Islamists. Europeans only want to discuss the rights of gays and women with the Islamists. Why don't we go beyond the bikinis and booze and ask about their economic agenda, what they expect from us, and how we can work together. Personal civic and political liberties also have to be part of that dialogue. Economic growth is only possible if people are creative and innovative," added the ex-Dutch diplomat.