By SOPHIE INGE and ALYX BARKER

ROME – Senior government ministers and academics from Arab and Western countries called for a new chapter in relations between the two worlds following the uprisings which have swept Arab regions since December 2010.

 The roundtable discussion, entitled ‘Arab Spring: Towards a national agreement’ was hosted by international Catholic peace-making organisation, the Rome-based Sant’Egidio Community. In particular, the conference grappled with the concepts of liberty, democracy and citizenship and examined their place within affected Arab countries.

 Among the high profile speakers were Rashid Ghannushi, co-founder of Tunisia’s largest political party, the moderate Islamist Ennahdha Movement. Ghannushi described the Arab Spring revolutions as a demonstration that “Muslims are not sworn enemies of democracy,” viewing them as an opportunity to reunite the Arab and Western worlds.

 Italian Overseas Development minister Andrea Riccardi, Sant’Egidio founder, also looked towards future cooperation saying: “Thanks to the Arab Spring, we have the possibility to create a new relationship, in which Christians and Muslims, the Western and the Arab worlds, can rediscover the value of democracy and liberty.”

 Professor Abdul Maheed Al-Najjar, from the Constituent Assembly of Tunisia, also emphasised the possibility of “turning a new page” in Arab/West relations. She stressed that up until now the West has not really known the Arab world or its people, as former dictators did not really represent them. “Now the West may truly get to know the Arab people first hand.”

 In his address, Riccardi called for “a new framework of cohabitation to guarantee religious and political plurality.”

 “Many times during the Arab Spring,” he said, “Christian minorities have felt insecure as if a dictatorship offers more guarantees than a democracy.”

 One of the challenges identified as crucial to the formation of new emerging democratic governments in the Arab world, is how to accommodate the diversity in their lands. In particular, human rights systems were spoken of as vital and fundamental to a new beginning. Ahmed Abu Baraka, from the Egyptian Freedom and Justice party, said that equality and absolute regard for human dignity would be the key principles on which the new constitution is being drafted, and the political system would be based.

 Abdul Rahma Al-Barr, from the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Movement rejected the term “minority” as an inherent denial of the equal rights of the “other,” affirming that “God created pluralism and diversity, so the presence of the other is necessary.”

 “The Koran also indicates every form of discrimination as irrational,” he added.  

 Former Italian MP Massimo D’Alema said that previous Arab/West relations were “far from equitable, sometimes even aiding and abetting previous rulers.” He added that “a great deal of diffidence towards political Islam which must be overcome,” and said in terms of migration relations that there are things “in our recent past that we should be ashamed of,” perhaps referring to Italy sending migrants back to Libya last year, a practice that was recently condemned by the European Court of Human Rights.

 Former Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini also spoke of the “major mistakes” made by Europe which has had “convenient partnerships with previous dictators.”

 All speakers who addressed the future of the Arab world post revolution acknowledged the huge challenges faced. Frattini said that this was “a very difficult phase,” taking into account the financial crisis, and growing expectations and impatience of the people.

 All were careful to express confidence in mid to long term benefits for the region, while admitting that the short term results of the revolts is likely to be fraught with mistakes and hardship. Ahmed Abu Baraka, from the Freedom and Justice Party in Egypt, said that “we will not only be successful, of course there will be some problems.”

 However, he warned of the enormous difficulties that must be faced when rebuilding a democracy, not only in terms of democratic principles, but in the restructuring of Tunisia’s economy which he described as “in shambles.”  

 Ghannushi emphasised that history has shown that dictatorships are not always linked to a religious faith, stressing also that religion can often go hand in hand with democracy, as Turkey has shown. He dismissed the idea of the Arab Spring as an offspring of Western imperialism, underlining that “[Arab] dictators were often supported by international communities,” sparking a round of applause from the audience. One member of the audience, a Tunisian lawyer and Arab rights activist said he was “inclined to condemn the West” for that support.

 Among the more sceptical speakers was Iraqi Anwar Matti Hadaya from the Independent Syriac Assembly Movement, who said it was “premature to pass a judgment on what has happened.” Sayyed Jawad Al-Khoei, from the Iraqi Al Khoei Foundation followed suit, describing his country as “unstable” and “in turmoil” and said that the Arab Spring could just as easily turn into an “Arab Winter.”

 Botros Fahim Awad Hanna, a Coptic-Catholic Bishop from Egypt, said that we must be “brave enough to forgive and be forgiven” in order to build new bridges.

 “Many people paid for this with their lives, which gives us a huge responsibility,” he said. The Bishop called for the audience to stand for a moment of silence to honour the “martyrs” and “true protagonists of the Arab Spring,” which prompted another round of applause.

 Long term gains were spoken of fondly, including better management of immigration, a bilateral partnership between the West and the Arab world, cultural enrichment, freedom and democracy. Frattini specifically proposed more open markets, and the extension of Erasmus grants to young people in the Arab regions. French Social Sciences Professor, Emilie Poulat was among the hopeful, saying that “lasting bonds will come from this day.”