By Khetam Malkawi in Jordan Times
DEAD SEA - The US-Arab
relationship should be revisited in light of the recent developments in the
region, Arab and US speakers said on Sunday, with a focus on supporting the
region’s youth and businesses.
“In view of the Arab Spring, I believe this relationship needs
to be revisited and any revision should involve transparency to know what the US
is thinking,” said UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar
Gargash.
Speaking at a session on US-Arab relations at the World
Economic Forum, Gargash added that the relationship is “multidimensional” and a
matter of great concern in the region.
Amr Musa, former secretary general of the Arab League, also
stressed the need to revisit this relationship, noting that “the new situation
in the Arab world is affecting all of us”.
“I am optimistic about regional developments,” he added. “We
need peace and stability.”
Robert Hormats, the US undersecretary of state for economy,
energy and agricultural affairs, agreed, noting that “the US had and is having a
very secure relationship in the region. This is a dramatic moment in history and
a defining moment for the US”.
“We will step up and do what is needed to support reform in the
region,” said Hormats, acknowledging, however, that fiscal constraints may limit
the amount of support the US can offer.
“Currently, we do not have the same financial resources that we
used to have,” the US official said, adding that US support will most likely
come in the form of seeking opportunities for US companies to invest in the
region, identifying opportunities to support entrepreneurs, and supporting small
and medium enterprises in the region.
Miriam Sapiro, deputy US trade representative, seconded
Hormats, saying that US support can come through business and trade
opportunities.
“We can use trade and investment opportunities to boost job
growth in the region,” she said.
However, Arab speakers stressed that Arab-Israeli relations and
the Palestinian issue should be considered while looking into the Arab-US
relationship.
As Gargash put it, “the issue of Palestine is extremely
important and there is now a real test of how the US is dealing with the issue
of Palestine”.
“We need to talk about strategic goals, including Arab-Israeli
relations,” Musa concurred.
They also stressed the need to support the economic revival of
countries witnessing political changes.
“Economic reform is vital to political reform in the region,
and the US should be able to explain to the American people the importance of
supporting the region and reform in the region,” said Hormats, adding that to
this end, American businesses and institutions must be mobilised to support
entrepreneurship in the Arab world.
“If we can help with youth, companies and universities in the
region, we can be more creative,” he noted.
