December 2004, Dubai - The USA's involvement
in Iraq came under the spotlight in a hard-hitting debate
between
His
Excellency
Mohamed Alabbar, Director General of Dubai's Department of
Economic Development and chairman of Emaar Properties, and
Rudolph Giuliani, the former mayor of New York.
Speaking on stage at Leaders in Dubai, Alabbar pointed to
the situation in Iraq and said: "While America's goals
for Iraq are noble, but the results are bad. The USA as a
country had wonderful dreams and great credibility – yet
its reputation has been lost over the last four years.
His
Excellency
Mohamed Alabbar and
Rudolph Giuliani.
Rudolph
Giuliani with WINNE representative Sandy Journaux.
|
"The situation affects all of us in the region, not
least because we are promoting liberalisation, freedom and
reform."
Giuliani argued that the situation in Iraq today is preferential
to three years ago and urged the Middle East to take another
look at the USA.
"Millions of people in Iraq died and nobody in the
Middle East was willing to get involved. I would urge you
not to have a prejudiced view of us: now the people of Iraq
have the chance of a decent government because young American
citizens have given their lives.
"In the midst of criticising America, please consider
this."
Giuliani pressed for a stronger business relationship with
the USA and Arabia and said: "Nothing makes us understand
each other quite like a mutually beneficial business relationship."
Giuliani expressed his hopes that an accountable government
in Iraq could become the model for the region. "This
is a great opportunity for Iraq to create a model of accountable
government, and demonstrate that democracy can fit within
the Islamic culture."
The former mayor was making his first trip to the Middle
East for the two-day Leaders in Dubai event, said to be the
biggest gathering of business leaders in the city since the
Annual Meetings of the World Bank and IMF.
Close on 2,500 delegates attended Leaders in Dubai, which
will be the biggest business conference to be held at the
Dubai International Convention Centre since the Annual Meetings
of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in September
2003.
Leaders in Dubai is sponsored by EMAAR, Saudi Basic Industries
Corporation (SABIC), Citigroup, Shell, Nokia and Visa International.
Al Hayat, Ameinfo.com, CNN and Gulf Business are the event’s
key media partners, HP is the technology supporter and the
official hotel is The Fairmont, Dubai.
For more information please visit: www.leadersindubai.com
Accountable Government Models Discussed By Alabbar And Giuliani
At Leaders In Dubai