Madrid, august, 16th 2004 - While overlooking the Alps mountains, I was savouring a Swiss raclette and talking with the President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus, moments after having exchanged a few words with the Vice President of Iraq, Mr. Rowsch Shaways about democracy and the security situation in his country.

There are few events in the world where a person can network and meet so many foreign leaders and dignitaries. The Crans Montana Forum is one of them – an event where the political and business elite discuss key regional and global issues in the hope of building a “more humane world”.

The question is: can an event like the Crans Montana Forum really propel change? Can it really affect long-term government policies and build consensus on divisive issues?

In a small way, perhaps it did. This year’s forum, which took place from June 24th to 27th in the Swiss mountain resort of Crans Montana, focused on the development of the Middle east, Eastern Europe and Africa. Discussions were varied, dealing with a range of issues such as security, democracy, regional integration, international trade, agricultural development and the role of multinational corporations to contribute to sustainable development.

Minister Zuzul speaking at the Crans Montana Forum.

The conference attempted to go beyond the sound bites of a typical news story on CNN – it tried to go beyond the surface and into the heart of the matter. In this way, through honest and open dialogue, the Crans Montana Forum was opening the door to meaningful discussion and open debate.

For example, the discussion on european integration was heated, as Rauf Denktash (64KB PDF), President of the Turkish Republic of Norther Cyprus, voiced his disappointment about the recent referendum on EU accession, while Alfred Moisiu, President of Albania, suggested that the European Union was not doing enough to help Albanians improve their economy.

Meanwhile, there were some EU enlargement success stories, such as the approval of Croatia last month to join the European Union, which was hailed as an example to other Balkan countries.

“Croatia is providing the model for other countries in the region, by implementing international standards and achieving concrete results. This is the message we are sending: if Croatia can do it, we can all do it” said Dr. Miomir Žužul ( Read our Interview ), the Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs.

In the Middle East, globalisation is an issue which touches all Arab countries as they attempt to modernise their economies while preserving their culture.

Rowsch Shaways, Vice President of Iraq.

“Our children are living a 21st century life during the day with access to the Internet, mobile phones and new shopping malls, yet they are coming home at night to a family life that still maintains 19th century practices…” said Muin Khoury, Director of Research in the Royal Hashemite Court of Jordan. Delegates agreed that both culture and globalisation are not exclusive; they can both co-exist and grow together.

“Globalisation is no longer a choice, it is a reality. The challenge now is to adapt and adopt appropriate measures to benefit from its fruits and mitigate its negative consequences” added Abdel Aziz Abu Hamad Aluwaisheg (65KB PDF), Director for Economic Integration of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Meanwhile, the Government of Iraq was on the defensive, attempting to assure the international community that they would restore order and security to the nation, even if it would take time. When asked if democracy was really attainable within the next six months, Vice President Shaways tried to be optimistic and promised that this would be one of the three major goals of his administration: democracy, security and economic reform.

Even though the situation in Iraq seems to change every day, “optimism is the only option” professed Shaways.

This set the tone for the intervention of His Majesty Reza Pahlavi, the son of the Shah of Iran, who stated that “a pluralist and democratic Iraq, next door to Iran, will facilitate the development of true, laic democracy in the region in which we can embrace religious freedom”.

Pahlavi believes that Iran may soon go through a political transformation similar to the one in South Africa or Czech Republic.

Madikaba Camara, Ministre de l'economie de Guinee.

“The regime is more and more isolated, and is attempting to re-enforce its authority by repressing the wishes of its people. We need the freedom to choose our system of government” concludes Pahlavi.

Along with the concern for the situation in the middle east, Africa was on the agenda as well, particularly due to the explosive situation in Ivory Coast which is being torn into northern and southern ethnic camps and fuelled by religious tensions.

The future of Western Africa was a major issue for discussion. While the region seeks trade harmonization it is also experiencing major difficulties to diversify its economy and re-distribute wealth to its people. Yet the delegation of Guinée was optimistic. Led by the Minister of Economy, Mr. Madikaba Camara, and the Minister of Mines, Mr. Alpha Mady Soumah, the government of Guinée hopes to take a leading role in the region, announcing that it will host a Western African Summit in the capital city of Conakry next year.

“Increased security, economic diversification, foreign investment partnerships and the reduction of poverty are essential goals for the prosperity of West Africa” stated Madikaba Camara, Minister of Economy and Finance of Guinée.

It is with this image in mind that Jean-Paul Carteron (370KB PDF), Chairman and Founder of the Crans Montana Forum and Monaco World Summit, agreed that “the world is loosing its focus and direction, due to increased poverty and exclusion”. Through dialogue and understanding, it is his hope that we can improve the state of the world and find a balance between peace, development and corporate responsibility.

His Majesty Reza Pahlavi at the Crans Montana Forum. Read his speech.

In a small way, the Crans Montana Forum might have contributed to this goal. Will it change the world? Probably not. Yet the dialogue and the contacts that it has generated could be the starting point for change. By opening our eyes to different ideas and different viewpoints, while putting pressure on public opinion and lobbying government officials, the Crans Montana Forum will have been able to drive the impetus for change.

Although this is only a first step, it is certainly a step in the right direction.

Following the Crans Montana Forum, the MONACO WORLD SUMMIT, an exclusive event which brings together representatives from government and the private sector, will be organised in association with the World Tourism Organisation and will take place in Monaco on October 27th to 29th, 2004.

For more information please visit www.cmf.ch or contact the conference organisers at:

Crans Montana Forum / Monaco World Summit
41, Av. Hector Otto - Le Patio Palace - 98000 Monaco
Tel.: 00377 9770 7000 - Fax: 00377 9770 7040
summit@world-summit.org

Crans Montana SkyLine.