Hillary Clinton promet des millions de dollars d’aides aux pays musulmans

Hillary R. Clinton à la session pleinière du Forum du futur

La secrétaire d’Etat américaine Hillary Clinton a annoncé aujourd’hui un ensemble d’initiatives en direction des “sociétés civiles” du monde musulman. Une annonce qui vient en écho concret aux engagements pris par Obama en juin dernier lors de son Cairo Speech.

Hillary R. Clinton  a renouvelé la promesse faite par le président Barack Obama d’un “nouveau départ” dans les relations des USA avec le monde musulman. Elle a confirmé que l’objectif de l’administration Obama est “d’écouter plus et de découvrir de nouvelles façons de travailler en partenaires”. Elle a ainsi annoncé le lancement de programmes favorisant le développement économique, l’éducation, le partage des savoirs  scientifiques et l’activité des femmes à destination des pays musulmans.

Hillary Clinton a annoncé de multiples initiatives du gouvernement américain en faveur des créateurs d’entreprise et de la création d’emplois, le soutien à l’investissement dans la technologie, le développement des échanges éducatifs, et l’aide à l’éducation des femmes.

L’entrepreneuriat et les nouvelles technologies
Hillary R. Clinton a annoncé la tenue d’un sommet de l’entreprise (Entrepreneurship Summit) qui mettra en relation, en 2010 à Washington, des “porteurs d’innovation venant de communautés musulmanes dans le monde entier avec des chefs d’entreprise américains”. Elle a également annoncé le lancement du programme “Civil Society 2.0″ qui vise à “renforcer la société civile sur le terrain, en l’aidant à avoir accès aux technologies numériques”.

Education
Desprogrammes pilotes seront lancés afin de soutenir les nouveaux médias et l’éducation à distance en Afrique ainsi qu’au Proche et Moyen-Orient. L’un des programmes sera doté de 30 millions de dollars et serait mis en oeuvre en faveur des jeunes défavorisés en Jordanie ajouant que l’admistration Oabama est “déterminé[e] à créer des opportunités pour aider au développement des énormes talents qui habitent les peuples de cette région”.

Dialogue interconfessionnel
Enfin, la secrétaire d’Etat a dévoilé une initiative de dialogue interconfessionnel, qui devrait se traduire par des réunions semestrielles à l’échelle des gouvernements, mais aussi d’associations et du secteur privé.

Conflit israélo-palestinien as usual
Enfin, Hillary R. Clinton n’a pas manqué de soulever la question du conflit israélo-palestinien et répéter la volonté des USA à parvenir à une solution à deux Etats. “Nous sommes déterminés à persévérer dans la poursuite de cet objectif … Je crois très fortement que cela est possible. Je crois que l’engagement du président Obama est compris et je crois qu’avec votre soutien nous pourrons trouver un moyen d’y parvenir”.

Plût à Dieu que cela fût !

Intervention de Mounir Bensalah au Forum du future

Mounir Bensalah

Dans le cadre des travaux du Forum du futur se tenant à Marrakech le 02 et 03 novembre, Mounir Bensalah un  militant des Droits de l’Homme, est intervenu durant la séance pleinière . Voici le texte de son intervetion où il s’exprimait en nom du Blogger Youth Forum (ne faites pas attention à la faute de frappe sur la photo):

أتحدث باسم ورشة الرباط حول الموضوع الخاص بالحكامة المحلية بمنطقة شمال إفريقيا و الشرق الأوسط الموسع.

إنني أسجل كمشارك بارتياح مصادقة الاجتماع على تقرير ورشة الرباط, لما عرفته من نقاش هام, جدي و بناء و في نفس الوقت شاق و صعب. انه نقاش مكن الآراء المتعددة من التعبير عن نفسها و من إيجاد ذاتها في التقرير الذي صادقتم عليه.

و أتشرف باسم ممثلي منظمات المجتمع المدني الغير الحكومية المشاركة في هذا الاجتماع بان اقدم لكم الأفكار الرئيسية حول الحكامة المحلية.

إذ تستلزم الحكامة المحلية مبادئ سياسة القرب و المشاركة و توسيعها فان العناصر الأساسية للحكامة المحلية الجيدة تتمثل في :

- التشاور

- الفعالية و الشفافية

- الإشراك و المشاركة

- التقييم و المحاسبة

إن الحكامة المحلية نموذج يعطي حلولا للتعقيدات التي تعرفها الآليات الديموقراطية التقليدية لكونها تدبير يمكن أن يعطي أجوبة للأزمات سواء الاقتصادية أو المالية أو الطاقية أو البيئية.

فمن خلال ورشة الرباط, تم التوافق على أهمية الحكامة المحلية في تطوير آليات الديموقراطية و كذلك على كونها يمكن أن تقدم حلولا للتعقيدات السياسية.

و في هذا السياق شدد تقرير الورشة على أهمية المبادرات الرامية إلى تعزيز الحكامة المحلية سبيلا لتقوية المجتمعات الديموقراطية المتسمة بالتعددية و الوحدة و تشجيع التعاون بين المؤسسات المحلية و الوطنية و المجتمع المدني بغية تقوية القدرات الديموقراطية, كما ركزوا على أهمية تبادل التجارب بين مجموعة الثمانية و دول منطقة شمال افريقيا و الشرق الأوسط الموسع و الدول الشريكة اعتبارا لجوهريته في طريق مسلسل الإصلاح.

إن المبادرات الرامية إلى دعم و توطيد الحكامة المحلية و توسيع الفضاءات أمام المواطنين تعتبر خيارا استراتيجيا نحو إرساء مجتمعات ديموقراطية مع رفض كل أشكال التمييز و التهميش و الاضطهاد ضد كل شرائح المجتمع.

لقد شدد التقرير على الحاجة إلى و ضع آليات للمساءلة و إلى الحكامة المحلية الجيدة ضمانا للشفافية و المسؤولية الاجتماعية. إن روح المسؤولية المشتركة يحتم على كافة الأطراف, حكومات و مجتمعا مدنيا و قطاعا خاصا, العمل على تعزيز تدبير الشؤون المحلية و تعزيز الديموقراطية عبر إقامة جسور التواصل على المستويين المحلي و الوطني حول قضايا الديموقراطية و حقوق الإنسان و الحكامة المحلية.

لقد دعا المشاركون إلى إقامة تعاون ملموس بين مجموعة الثمانية و الحكومات و المجتمع المدني بمنطقة شمال إفريقيا و الشرق الأوسط الموسع في مجال الحكامة المحلية و الحكامة الجيدة و تقوية جهود توسيع نطاقها و تطبيقها.

لقد أوصى المجتمع المدني المشارك بالورشة بإصدار تقرير دوري حول الديموقراطية و حقوق الإنسان ذات الصلة و الحكامة المحلية يقدم خلال منتدى المستقبل و يبرز التقدم المحرز بشأنها و الاختلالات و التحديات القائمة بخصوصها كما يبرز التجارب الوطنية الناجحة في شان الشراكات بين منظمات المجتمع المدني و الحكومات.

منير بن صالح

حركة المدونين المستقلين – المغرب

Transcription de la réponse d’Hillary Clinton sur les réformes au Maroc

Lundi 2 novembre s’est tenu une courte conférence de presse conjointe entre M. Taeïb Fassi-Fihri, ministre des affaires étrangères et de la coopération, et Hillary R. Clinton, Secrétaire d’Etat US.

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) Thank you. (Inaudible), Mrs. Clinton, you have met with His Majesty the King this afternoon for a little over an hour. I wish to know what is it that you have talked about, and what is your assessment of the Moroccan experience in the area of democracy, human rights, and in governance? And these are the subjects to be addressed by the Forum of the Future in this present edition.

SECRETARY CLINTON: I think that Morocco has made significant progress in those three areas. I believe that there is more work to be done, but that is a challenge that faces many countries. But what is significant about Morocco and about the King’s leadership is the commitment that has been shown to the improvement of the lives of the Moroccan people.

I think that over the last 10 years, there has been a number of very important measurements of progress, and I discussed with His Majesty his hopes and his commitments to continuing the progress, to building on it; our bilateral relationship, which is very meaningful to both of our countries; how we can deepen and broaden our work together, which we are committed to doing, and the foreign minister and I have discussed our intention to do that. We spoke about some of the regional and international issues that are of concern to both of our nations.

It was a very substantive, productive conversation. It also had some personal elements to it because I was very pleased toward the end of my husband’s term in office to have us be able to host the then new King at the White House. And we know each other’s families. We have a friendship, and it is of great, great import to me.

So we had a very broad-ranging conversation and laid out a set of issues that we’re going to continue to work on. And I hope for signs of even more progress here in Morocco and more broadly.

Transcription de la réponse d’Hillary Clinton sur le Sahara marocain

Conférence de presse conjointe entre Taeïb Fassi-Fihri et Hillary R. Clinton

Lundi 2 novembre s’est tenu une courte conférence de presse conjointe entre M. Taeïb Fassi-Fihri, ministre des affaires étrangères et de la coopération, et Hillary R. Clinton, Secrétaire d’Etat US.

QUESTION: Madame Secretary, change of subject, if I may.  During the past few years, the United States, just like other members of the Security Council, have characterized the Moroccan initiative for autonomy in the Sahara as being serious and credible.  My question is:  Does the Obama Administration stand by that position?  Thank you.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Yes.  Our policy has not changed, and I thank you for asking the question because I think it’s important for me to reaffirm here in the Morocco that there has been no change in policy.

Transcription du statement d’Hillary Clinton à la Mamounia

La Secrétaire d’Etat américaine, Hillary R. Clinton a prononcé une brès declaration avant son entreveu avec son homologue marocain Taïeb Fassi-Fihri durant un “Camera Spray” à l’hôtel Mamounia:

For 40 years, successive American administrations of both parties have opposed Israel’s settlement policy. That is absolutely a fact.

And the Obama Administration’s position on settlements is clear, unequivocal. It has not changed. And as the President has said on many occasions, the United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements. Now, the Israelis have responded to the call from the United States, the Palestinians and the Arab world to stop settlement activity by expressing a willingness to restrain settlement activity. They will build no new settlements, expropriate no land, allow no new construction or approvals.

And let me just say this offer falls far short of what we would characterize as our position, or what our preference would be. But if it is acted upon, it will be an unprecedented restriction on settlements and would have a significant and meaningful effect on restraining their growth.

Let me take a step back because I want to put this into the broader context. I will offer positive reinforcement to the parties when I believe they are taking steps that support the objective of reaching a two-state solution.

I will also push them as I have in public and in private to do even more. And in my report to the President last month, I talked about Israeli willingness to restrain settlement activity as a positive step.

In the same report, I praised President Abbas’ leadership of the Palestinian Authority for their courage and the security measures on the West Bank. The steps being taken under President Abbas and Prime Minister Fayed are also unprecedented and we have never seen such effective security. I have on many occasions going back – as you know in Sharm El Sheikh – praised the accomplishments that the Palestinian Authority has demonstrated in building, training, and reforming their security forces.

I told Prime Minister Netanyahu that these positive steps on the part of the Palestinians should be met by positive steps from Israel – movement and access, operations by the IDF and on Israeli security arrangements on the West Bank. Israel has done a few things in that regard but they need to do much more. And President Abbas has shown leadership and determination on this issue and Israel should reciprocate.

I just want to clarify that what we are trying to achieve is a two-state solution with a state that represents the aspirations of the Palestinian people – the sovereignty and to have control over their own future, and provide the security guarantees to Israel for their own future. That is my goal. And when either party takes any steps that looks like it moves us in the right direction – even if it is not what I would like or what I would prefer – I’m going to positively reinforce that.

This is an opportunity for both sides to try to move forward together, to get into negotiations, and to realize the goal that many of us around this table have supported and worked for for many years.

Hillary Clinton poursuivie par le conflit israélo-palestinien à Marrakech

Hillary R Clinton en entrevue avec Taïeb Fassi Fihri à l'Hôtel Mamounia

En marge des travaux du Forum pour l’avenir qui se tient à Marrakech les 2 et 3 novembre, la Secrétaire d’État US, Hillary Rodham Clinton, a tenu une rencontre avec son avec son homologue marocain, Taïeb Fassi-Fihri, à l’hôtel Mamounia.

Avant le début de l’entrevue entre les deux responsables a eu lieu un “Camera Spray” et une courte déclaration d’Hillary R. Clinton concernant ses récentes déclarations à Jérusalem où elle a appuyé l’offre israélienne de gel partiel de la colonisation.

La secrétaire d’État américaine a cherché donc à rassurer son monde en confirmant l’opposition américaine à de nouvelles colonies israéliennes tout en insistant à nouveau pour une reprise sans préalable des négociations de paix. Elle a ainsi déclaré que “La position de l’administration Obama sur les colonies n’a pas changé : les Etats-Unis n’acceptent pas la légitimité de la poursuite des implantations israéliennes … Mais les Israéliens ont répondu à un appel des Etats-Unis, des Palestiniens et du monde arabe en exprimant la volonté de limiter l’activité de colonisation”. Hillary R. Clinton a reconnu toutefois que ceci était loin de ce que Washington préférerait.

Hillary Clinton semblait chercher à limiter les dégats causés (un damage control policy selon les dires de certains journalistes américains couvrant la visite de Hillary R. Clinton) par ses propos de samedi soir où elle estimait que l’offre israélienne était “sans précédent”, suscitant une vive réaction des leaders arabes.

Le chef de la Ligue arabe, Amr Moussa, a exprimé lundi le “soutien arabe” au refus du président palestinien Mahmoud Abbas de reprendre les négociations de paix avec Israël en l’absence d’un gel de la colonisation juive.

“Nous avons des craintes évidentes. Israël veut reprendre les négociations sans conditions préalables. Il veut détacher la question de Jérusalem (des négociations), et ne pas interrompre la colonisation”, a dit à l’AFP M. Moussa, joint par téléphone à Marrakech.

A rappeler que cette rencontre internationale, de deux jours, réunit des représentants de plusieurs délégations représentant des organisations intergouvernementales, les grandes puissances économiques membres du G8 (Allemagne, Canada, Etats Unis, France, Italie, Japon, Royaume Uni et Russie), et une vingtaine de pays de la région du Moyen-Orient Elargi et de l’Afrique du Nord (BMENA), ainsi que de la Commission européenne et de la Ligue arabe.

The Forum for the Future starts today

The Forum for the Future started today in Marrakech at the Conference Centre of Palmeraie Golf Palace. This forum is is a joint initiative of the countries of the Broader Middle East and North Africa region (BMENA) and the industrialized countries of the Group of Eight (G8).

The organizers descibe it as a “unique partnership between governments of the region, the G8, civil-society representatives and private-sector leaders to discuss and exchange ideas on how to best work together to support progress and expand opportunities for the people of the region.”

The Forum for the Future was launched at the Sea Island G8 Summit in the United States in June, 2004.  During this summit, the G8 countries stressed their commitment to “promote progress in the BMENA region and to help establish an environment conducive to an informal, flexible, open and inclusive dialogue”.  The first Forum for the Future was held in Rabat in December 2004, co-hosted by Morocco and the United States.

In preparation for the 2009 ministerial, co-chairs Morocco and Italy along with civil society partners convened three preparatory workshops across the region on:

Pulp Wave Fiction

When cinema meets technology, it can produce a brilliant mix of awesomness and creativity. This video is produced by www.getwhirled.com. Outstanding guys !

more about “Pulp Wave Fiction“, posted with vodpod

Blog Action Day: Climate change challenges developping countries

One of the most contentious issues in the debate over global climate change is the perceived divide between the interests and obligations of developed and developing countries. Equity demands that developed countries—the source of most past and current emissions of greenhouse gases—act first to reduce emissions. That principle is embedded in the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which sets binding emission targets for developed countries only. With the Protocol now likely into force, the focus will turn increasingly to the question of developing country emissions.

Addressing climate change in developing countries poses a fundamentally different challenge. For most, emission reduction is not a viable option in the near term. With income levels far below those of developed countries—and per capita emissions on average just one-sixth those of the industrialized world developing countries will continue to increase their emissions as they strive for economic growth and a better quality of life. But their steadfast resistance to the idea of limiting their emissions has led to claims in some quarters that developing countries are not doing their fair share.

Accepting emission limits, however, is not the only measure of whether a country is contributing to climate change mitigation. Efforts that serve to reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions, whether or not undertaken in the name of climate protection, nonetheless contribute to climate mitigation. These efforts can occur across virtually every sector of an economy. Many of them are motivated by common drivers: economic development and poverty alleviation, energy security, and local environmental protection.
Put another way, there are multiple drivers for actions that reduce emissions, and they produce multiple benefits. The most promising policy approaches, then, will be those that capitalize on natural synergies between climate protection and development priorities to simultaneously advance both.
Just as equity demands that developed countries act first, the physical workings of our planet demand that in time developing countries limit and, ultimately, reduce their emissions as well. The search for consensus on an equitable sharing of responsibility must begin with a fair accounting of how nations already are contributing to this common effort.

One of the examples I have on this issue of equity is the mobilization of investment. Both the need for international technology transfer and investment, and the need for reforms to facilitate investment. Some reforms such as increased transparency and stronger rule of law are needed to improve the investment environment broadly. Other efforts should be directed specifically at promoting climate-friendly investment.

Investment opportunities often are obscured by lack of funds to identify good projects for mitigating measures; an important role for international assistance would be to demonstrate how any investment will be repaid. Market-based approaches such as the Clean Development Mechanism could help generate investment in cleaner energy. Additional resources could be brought to bear through multilateral banks and bilateral mechanisms that traditionally have supported trade and development, but now are  in need of an updated mission.

Bilateral and multilateral programs can mobilize private- and public-sector experts to provide technical and policy advice, particularly for price reform and imposition of hard budget constraints. Sometimes human capacity exists but is underutilized due to insufficient funding for relevant efforts such as project identification and preparation.

Efforts should be made wherever possible to realize synergies between climate mitigation and local environmental objectives, such as improving air quality and encouraging forest and land conservation. Priorities include removing subsidies and incentives that accelerate deforestation—policies, for example, that develop unefficient and large touristic projects leading to land speculation. Another priority is funding for forestry intended to protect water supplies and reduce erosion and dust.

One of the big issues for Morocco is its dependance on foreign oil for energy. Moroccan government should address this issue with great ambition in order to reduce our dependance on foreign oil and take all advantage from our sunny lands and windy coasts. In 2008 renewable energy met 24% of Spain’s electricity demand. In April this year renewable power met 30% of the demand, and installed capacity is continuing to grow. Why not develop clean energy policy in Morocco at a very large scale in cooperation with this european country. The advanced status that Morocco got with the European Union sould not be just a question of trade, immigration and fishing, it should also be a question of technology transfer and multilateral cooperation.

This post is a contribution to Blog Action Day.

He’s Barack Obama

C’est donc annoncé. C’est donc chose faite. Le comité Nobel vient d’attribuer le Prix de la Paix pour l’année 2009 au président US Barack Obama. Le prix Nobel lui a été attribué pour «pour ses efforts extraordinaires en vue de renforcer la diplomatie internationale et la coopération entre les peuples». «Le comité a attaché beaucoup d’importance à la vision et aux efforts d’Obama en vue d’un monde sans armes nucléaires», a déclaré le président du comité Nobel norvégien, Thorbjoern Jagland. En effet, le président américain avait lancé un appel en faveur d’un «monde sans armes nucléaires» lors d’un discours à Prague en avril dernier.

Le comité Nobel vient de changer la donne. On n’attribue plus le Nobel pour des actions passées mais pour encourager des actions à venir.

Allez, prenons la chose avec philosophie !