Region's future won't be shaped by wars: Shaikh Mohammed

Dubai - Arab forum which opens today to discuss trends for region.

The world is in its most complex and crucial phase in history, the outcome of which will determine its future, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has said.
"This future will not be shaped by wars, but rather by tolerance, understanding and justice," Shaikh Mohammed said ahead of the Arab Strategy Forum that opens today.
Eminent thought leaders and experts, economists, politicians and analysts will converge at the event to discuss future trends in the Arab region, while examining economic and political challenges that have dominated the world in 2015.
Recalling his speech at the Arab Strategy Forum in 2004, Shaikh Mohammed said: "Back then, we mentioned the importance of change to avoid revolutions and we warned against the possibility that the theory of the 'clash of civilisations' may prevail. We also warned against the spread of hatred based on religion, race or sectarian differences.
"Today, we are witnessing the consequences. We are witnessing revolutions and conflicts that have one thing in common: They are against civilisation. What is happening today is a struggle between civilisation and its enemies. To defeat evil and destructive forces, we need to stop associating them with any civilisation, religion or race as they practise killing for killing's sake. No religious teaching or civilisation supports these practices."
He affirmed that wars and conflicts in the region have destroyed the achievements of many countries. This is "clear evidence that partnership is the base for development" and wars and conflicts not only threaten the human race but also their values, traditions and ethics.
Shaikh Mohammed asserted that rescuing the region from the current crises would rescue the entire world, as the region is not isolated geographically or politically from the world. To achieve this, global and regional powers need to coordinate their efforts and overcome their differences.
"We must confront destructive forces with constructive initiatives; we must combat thoughts with thoughts and we must create the conditions necessary to prevent crises from perpetuating and push forward development. Power is useless unless it is utilised rationally to establish peace and justice. God created us to build not to destroy.
"If people would understand that the cost of building the biggest civilisation is much lesser than the cost of the smallest war, then the world will change. From the time that we launched our vision, it was clear to us that our way is long and difficult. We knew we will have to combat backwardness, but we were confident of success. History has its own logic, and those who understand this logic have the most powerful weapons. These weapons are knowledge, science and the interests of the people."
A key highlight of this year's Arab Strategy Forum is the showcasing of a number of reports by international organisations. The World Bank will offer insights on the economic prospects for the world in 2016, while the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will highlight its regional economic forecasts for the upcoming year. Foreign Affairs magazine will discuss its report on the political and economic state of the world for 2016. Furthermore, the World Economic Forum (WEF) will highlight its Global Risks Report 2016.
What to look out for in Arab Strategy Forum 2015
> Turki Al Faisal, chairman of the King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies and former director-general of the General Intelligence Directorate (GID) of Saudi Arabia; and Ghassan Salameh, political thinker and author, will headline a session on the state of the Arab world in 2016. Mohannad Al Khateeb from Sky News Arabia will moderate the session.
> Salam Fayyad, former Palestinian prime minister; and Mahmoud Mohieldin, corporate secretary and president's special envoy, World Bank, will participate in a session on the economic state of the Arab world in 2016. Highlighting economic trends, growth prospects and challenges, the session will be moderated by Nassir Al Teibi from Al Arabiya news channel.
> William Hague, former UK foreign secretary, will lead a session on the political state of the world for 2016. He will offer his insights and predictions on the future of the world in a session moderated by Becky Anderson from CNN.
> Larry Summers, former US secretary of treasury and former president of Harvard University; and Professor Nouriel Roubini from the New York University will headline a session on the economic state of the world in 2016. The two speakers will highlight economic trends and their global effects during the session moderated by Tom Kenny from Bloomberg.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai