http://www.gulfnews.com/region/United_Arab_Emirates/10076368.html
United Arab Emirates Published: 10/21/2006 12:00 AM (UAE) Soft glove approach for Arab democracy By Duraid Al Baik, Foreign Editor Dubai: For many Arabs, the term democracy has become synonymous with chaos and civil unrest. Images of a glossy democratic lifestyle in the modern world have been replaced with the ongoing bloody unrest in Iraq. Now, Arab intellectuals are ready to dump "democracy" after seeing the violent transition of an US-imposed democratic system in Iraq. But, a great believer in democracy from the European Union (EU) is working hard to convince Arabs that reforms can be achieved through peaceful means and that democracy is synonymous with prosperity. Baroness Emma Nicholson, Member of the EU Parliament, said she was working with a team from the EU Parliament and through non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the Arab world to change the pessimistic view of Western style-democracy and to enhance democratic reforms in the region. In a special interview at her temporary office in the Movenpick in Sanaa, Baroness Nicholson admitted her mission had become more difficult since the war on Iraq. She acknowledged a segment of Arab intellectuals believed it was acceptable to stand with tyrants of a country instead of supporting democratic changes forced on them by foreign forces. Genuine polls She said the incidents in Iraq had been used against the call for democracy in the Arab world. "Arab people are watching the surge in violence in Iraq under the flagship of democracy." Following the collapse of Saddam Hussain's regime, the nation lost more lives in its 42-month march towards democracy than it did under the dictator's regime in three decades, and a better-the-devil-you-know attitude prevails. However, Nicholson said: "Democracy is not only a method of ruling countries. It is a lifestyle that enables human beings to speak, move, work. It is a key tool for fair dialogue which is our modern weapon in resolving conflicts." Baroness Nicholson was thrilled with the success of the first "genuine" multiparty presidential and local elections held in Yemen last month. She was in Yemen as the head of the EU team. She told Gulf News the success of the elections in an Arab country such as Yemen was evidence of the possibility of spreading democracy without resorting to violent means. She said: "I believe in promoting democracy and good governance all over the world through dialogue and peaceful means rather than using fire to force people to believe in democracy. "Although my country, the UK, is involved with the US in what the two governments call building a democratic model in the region. I think what has been achieved through dialogue in Yemen is more comprehensive and more sustainable than the achievements in the past 42 months in Iraq," Baroness Nicholson said. Baroness Nicholson added regimes in the region who started to implement superficial cosmetic reforms to evade international pressure would be stopped [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
