L’élection présidentielle de 2010 est l’épilogue d’une longue série de rebondissements politiques en Côte d’Ivoire ; et d’une instrumentalisation ethno-nationaliste, menée par tous les gouvernements depuis l’avènement de la démocratie.

Par Frédéric Baranger, Coordinateur de Recherche au sein de l’Institut Amadeus

4th Declaration of Tangier “The South in global governance”

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Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI

MEDays 2011: The forum of the South

4^th Declaration of Tangier “The South in global governance”

Tangier, the former international city, a gateway to both Europe and Africa as well as a bridge between the Atlantic and Mediterranean, hosted from November 16^thto 19^th, 2011, the 4^th edition of the international MEDays forum.

Held under the theme “The South in global governance”, the MEDays forum is regarded as a unique framework of discussion and exchange, bringing together political leaders, high level economic actors and representatives of the civil society from the five continents.

In 2011, the evolutions and changes that the world - and in particular the MENA region - witnessed, have clearly demonstrated that we cannot talk about economic and social development without democratic openness.

The new governments stemming from the ongoing transitions in the Arab world and Africa will confront unprecedented challenges in education, employment, growth and wealth distribution within a hostile international economic environment.

The Arab Springs, the African transitions, the debt crisis in Europe, the downgrade of the US sovereign rating, the emergence of “indignados” movement around the world are events that shifted the paradigms and undoubtedly will redefine the frameworks through which we analyse the region.

Without a doubt, they will contribute to the emergence of a new global order, defined by a rebalancing in global governance in favor of emerging countries.

Considering the pivotal place given to human rights and democracy issues by the MEDays since its first edition in 2008

Considering the aspiration of people for a more democratic, fair and equitable society, which draws its legitimacy from knowledge and recognition of others

Considering the political changes in the Arab world

Considering the degradation of political stability and worsening repressions in Syria and Yemen

Considering the importance of the political and financial support provided by the stakeholders of the Pact de Deauville

Considering the positive democratic transformations in Niger, Guinea and the Ivory Coast

Considering the growing importance of new communication tools that come to strengthen participative democracy and accountability

Considering the Palestinian bid for state-status recognition at the United Nations and its successful election into membership at the UNESCO

Considering the permanent violation by the Israeli government of international laws by pursuing illegal development of settlements in the West Bank and Al Qods al Charif

Considering the global economic and financial turmoil and particularly the debt crisis in Europe

Considering the necessary rebalancing within the institutions of global governance in favor of a better representation of emerging countries

Considering the Fukushima tragedy and the high risks for safety and nuclear proliferation

Considering the issue of climate change and the increasing weight of developing countries in the emission of greenhouse gases

The MEDays forum has chosen to make the 18 following recommendations public in order to respond to the aspirations of the people for greater well being, participative democracy, social justice, security, peace and a more coordinated effort toward protecting the environment:

Recommendations

I. Recommendations on governance within international institutions

To reform governance within the UN by strengthening the role of the General Assembly and improve the work proceedings of the UN Security Council

To open up the G20 to 5 non-permanent member elected for a 2 year long mandate by the G77, a representative group formed by 132 developing countries

To work toward a new global governance based on the core values of multilateralism, inclusiveness and equity

II. Recommendations on the defense of Human Rights and ongoing democratization process in the world

To call upon the international community, in particular countries which have a prominent responsibility in preserving peace and security around the world, to condemn firmly any violation of Human Rights
To work on the protection of populations against armed violence and repression by regimes devoid of democratic legitimacy
To call upon the Arab League to take the lead in resolving all ongoing political crisis in the Arab world by unconditionally supporting democracy and human rights
To call upon the Arab League to take the lead in guaranteeing the implementation of the decisions taken during the Rabat summit held on November 16^th, 2011, about the situation in Syria; these decisions include meeting with the Syrian opposition, to take coercive measures against Bashar Al Assad’s government and to find an Arab led solution to the crisis in Syria

III. Recommendations on the Middle Eastern peace process

To work relentlessly toward the settlement of the conflict within the framework of international legality. Basis for a settlement is a two-state outcome with Al Qods as capital of Palestine within 1967 borders and an immediate end of colonization
To revive the Arab Peace Initiative as a basis for negotiations
To call upon the United States to support the Palestinian bid to get state recognition at the UN and to give up its policy of cutting off funding to UNESCO programs
To urge donors, chief among which members of Gulf Cooperation Council and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to fund activities of international organizations which recognise full membership to Palestine

IV. Recommendations on the economy and the global financial environment

To regulate global finance by empowering central banks to exert better control over transactions and risks associated to the financial and banking sectors
To establish a tax on financial transactions as announced during G20 meeting in Cannes (November 2011).
To set up a Euro-Mediterranean bank or agency to fund investments and back the private sector in the Southern Mediterranean

V. Recommendations on the protection of the environment

To establish a global institution that will ensure abidance to environmental agreements by reforming the UNEP (United Nations Environment Program)
To address the issue of climate change by focusing on sustainable development, promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energies

Tangier Initiative

The Tangier Initiative aims to support the commitments taken within the Deauville framework and to promote an inclusive and incentive based approach to financing.

For the Deauville commitments to materialize, it is necessary to create an independent multilateral investment fund (not a lending facility) for Arab developing countries. Its headquarters should be located within the region and regional offices should be opened in all targeted countries.

Written in Tangier, Morocco, on November 19^th, 2011