Brookings Series - U.S.-Islamic World Forum

2015 U.S.-Islamic World Forum

Mon, 01 Jun 2015 03:00:00 -0400

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June 1-3, 2015

Doha, Qatar

On June 1-3, 2015, the Brookings Institution, in conjunction with the State of Qatar, convened the 12th annual U.S.-Islamic World Forum. The theme of this year’s Forum was “Changing Assumptions,” which relates to historic shifts in geopolitical realities affecting the United States and Muslim-majority countries, as well as to societal and cultural norms.

The Forum’s plenary sessions (WEBCAST—see agenda below) highlighted several dimensions of relations with and within a rapidly changing Muslim world. Panelists discussed a wide range of topics, including:
-Strategic priorities for the United States and the Middle East
-Pluralism in the Islamic world
-The role of Iran in the region
-Advancing women’s role in an unstable Middle East
-Ending civil wars

The Forum also convened working and action groups which focused on current issues confronting the Islamic world. Group topics include:
-Here to stay and growing: Combating ISIS propaganda networks
-The Arab uprisings and the next generation of Islamists
-Strategic realignment in the Middle East
-Action Group: Jumpstarting community-led initiatives to counter violent extremism

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2014 U.S.-Islamic World Forum

Mon, 09 Jun 2014 00:00:00 -0400

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June 9-11, 2014

Doha, Qatar

Watch videos of the sessions »

The Brookings Institution’s Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World, in partnership with the State of Qatar, convened the 11th annual U.S.-Islamic World Forum from June 9-11, 2014 in Doha, Qatar. The 2014 Forum wass entitled “Islam and Inclusion” and focused on challenges of inclusion within Muslim communities around the world, especially in the context of governance, academia, religious institutions and civil society.

The Forum's plenary sessions (WEBCAST – see agenda below) highlighted several dimensions of relations with and within a rapidly changing Muslim world. Panelists discussed topics, including:
- The future role of the United States in the Middle East.
- The conflict in Syria, with a particular focus on the role of the global community.
- The future of the Palestinian people beyond the context of the peace process.
- Strategies for accommodating religious diversity and respecting religious expression.

The Forum also convened working groups which focus on current issues confronting the Islamic world. The groups’ conclusions and recommendations on these topics may be published as papers. The 2014 Forum also featured a new endeavor, the action group, which seeks to promote inclusion, reconciliation and sustainable economic development in Timbuktu, Mali through the revival of its rich cultural heritage.

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**WEBCAST AGENDA**

10:00AM AST (3:00AM EST)	Welcoming Remarks
SPEAKERS: • Ted Piccone, Acting Vice President and Director, Foreign Policy, The Brookings Institution • H.E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior of Qatar • H.E. Bujar Nishani, President of Albania • H.E. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, President of Mali Event Details and Video »

11:00AM AST (4:00AM EST)	Keynote Address
SPEAKER: • Ambassador Anne Patterson, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of State Event Details and Video »

11:45AM AST
(4:45AM EST)

The Future of the United States in the Middle East

SPEAKERS:
• Tamara Cofman Wittes (Moderator), Director and Senior Fellow, Saban Center for Middle East Policy, The Brookings Institution
• Issandr Elamrani, Head of North Africa Project, International Crisis Group
• Philip Gordon, White House Coordinator for the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf Region, U.S. National Security Council
• Hisham Melhem, Washington Bureau Chief, Al Arabiya
• Bruce Riedel, Senior Fellow, Saban Center for Middle East Policy, The Brookings Institution
• Shibley Telhami, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World, The Brookings Institution

Event Details and Video »

9:30AM AST
(2:30AM EST)

The Conflict in Syria

SPEAKERS:
• Salman Shaikh (Moderator), Director, Brookings Doha Center, The Brookings Institution
• Hassan Hachimi, Head of Political Affairs for the United States and Canada, Syrian National Coalition
• Mouaz Al Khatib, Former President, National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary & Opposition Forces
• Mouaz Moustafa, Political Director, Syrian Emergency Task Force

Event Details and Video »

2:15PM AST
(7:15AM EST)

Defining the Future: Palestinian Voices

SPEAKERS:
• Khaled Elgindy (Moderator), Fellow, Saban Center for Middle East Policy, The Brookings Institution
• Mustafa Barghouthi, General Secretary, Palestinian National Initiative
• Mohammed S. Dajani Al Daoudi, Founder, Wasatia
• Omar Shaban, Founder, PalThink for Strategic Studies
• Husam Zomlot, Deputy Commissioner for Political Affairs and Official Spokesman, Fatah Commission for International Affairs

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10:30AM AST
(3:30AM EST)

Accommodating Religious Diversity

SPEAKERS:
• H.A. Hellyer (Moderator), Nonresident Fellow, Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World, The Brookings Institution
• Mohamed Elsanousi, Secretariat and Director of External Relations, Network of Religious and Traditional Peacemakers
• Rashad Hussain, U.S. Special Envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation
• Mehrezia Labidi-Maiza, Vice Chair, National Founding Assembly, Tunisia
• Yousef Mohammed al-Siddiqi, Head of the Department of Da’wa and Islamic Culture, Qatar University

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12:00PM AST (5:00AM EST)	Closing Remarks and Summary
SPEAKERS: • Ibrahim Al-Naimi, Chairman, Doha International Center for Interfaith Dialogue • William McCants, Fellow and Director, Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World, The Brookings Institution Event Details and Video »

WORKING & ACTION GROUPS

	Empowering Pakistan's Civil Society to Counter Violent Extremism How can the United States and international community adopt a more systematic approach to strengthen Pakistan’s civil society? Learn More »
	Justice in Post-Conflict Settings: Islamic Law and Muslim Communities as Stakeholders in Successful Transition How can Islamic principles be applied to post-conflict modalities in such a way that Muslims and non-Muslim practitioners alike can benefit? Learn More »
	Muslim Communities in Europe & North America: A Transatlantic Dialogue on Contextualized Religion A key problem that Muslim communities face in Europe and North America is the challenge of achieving a contextualized understanding of their religion that is suited toward their status as a religious minority in contemporary Western societies. Learn More »
	The Timbuktu Renaissance Action Group The Timbuktu Renaissance Action Group addresses the challenges Mali faces in the wake of the 2012 crisis when violent extremists overthrew Timbuktu and brutally divided the country. Learn More »

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Patterson Remarks

2013 U.S.-Islamic World Forum

Sun, 09 Jun 2013 00:00:00 -0400

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June 9-11, 2013

Doha, Qatar

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Brookings Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World, in partnership with the State of Qatar, convened its annual U.S.-Islamic World Forum from June 9-11, 2013 in Doha, Qatar. The Forum was entitled “A Decade of Dialogue,” heralding the ten-year anniversary of the Forum. The Forum has become the premier platform for engagement by American leaders from government, business, and civil society with their counterparts from Muslim-majority countries around the world.

This year's sessions highlighted the changing landscape in Pakistan and Afghanistan and its effect on internal and regional security. The event featured discussions on the challenges of democracy and development that have loomed in the aftermath of the Arab Spring. The Forum also featured a discussion on the conflict in Syria, noting the spiraling effects of the conflict on the Middle East region and the roles played by the United States and other outside actors.

As in previous years, the Forum convened working groups focused on specific thematic issues. The 2013 working groups focus on advancing women’s political participation within an Islamic framework, supporting economic assistance and recovery in Egypt and Tunisia; examining the role of faith based leaders in mediating conflict and fostering diplomacy; and defining and understanding freedom of speech among global Muslim communities.

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2012 U.S.-Islamic World Forum

Mon, 28 May 2012 00:00:00 -0400

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May 28-31, 2012

Doha, Qatar

Read the 2012 working group and long conversation papers »

See the forum agenda for details on sessions and speakers.

The 2012 U.S.-Islamic World Forum, convened by the Brookings Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World, housed within the Saban Center for Middle East Policy, in partnership with the State of Qatar, took place in Doha, Qatar, on May 29-31. The theme for the forum was, "New Voices, New Directions," emphasizing the challenge of change. Policy makers and officials, thought leaders and activists, and entrepreneurs and journalists met during sessions to facilitate productive dialogue concerning problems faced in U.S. relations with the Islamic world.

In 2011, the forum took place in the midst of the “Arab Awakening” and the dramatic changes that continue to transform the Middle East and North Africa. From Tunisia to Egypt to Yemen, ordinary citizens made possible extraordinary political and social changes. The 2012 forum examined the impact of these changes and continuing challenges posed for Muslim communities around the globe, including in South and Southeast Asia, as well as strategic implications for the United States.

During the three days of the forum there were a variety of formats for candid dialogue and engagement:

A series of keynote speeches at the opening gala dinner from world leaders on the challenges confronting Muslim communities around the globe and their relations with the United States.
Three plenary sessions of fast-paced, in-depth discussions among prominent international figures on broad thematic issues: political, social, and geostrategic change in the Muslim world.
Two panel discussions featuring experts on key issues: the 2012 U.S. presidential elections and the role of arts and culture in social change.
A set of four small working groups that brought together practitioners from specific fields to develop practical partnerships and policy recommendations presented in papers published by the Brookings Institution.
The 2012 signature event, “The Long Conversation,” is an effort to explore the dynamic relationship between citizen, religion, and the state in a changing world. The resulting policy paper incorporates discussion amongst forum participants during this off the record session.

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2011 U.S.-Islamic World Forum

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 09:00:00 -0400

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April 12-14, 2011

Washington
DC

On April 12-14, 2011, the Government of Qatar, the Brookings Institution and the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World hosted the eighth annual U.S.-Islamic World Forum, convening for the first time in Washington, D.C. at this critical moment in Middle Eastern political history.

The U.S.-Islamic World Forum is a platform for dialogue at the highest level featuring leading U.S. and Muslim public officials, business leaders, scholars, journalists and commentators. Long seen as the world’s premier policy event for leaders with stakes in the global Muslim community, the Forum has a history of fostering unique, positive relationships between policymakers, business, cultural and religious leaders from across the Muslim World and the United States.

This year’s discussions focused on the rapid, turbulent change in the Middle East and implications for Muslims around the world.

There were five plenary sessions on topics such as civil society, the Libyan crisis, and the media.
Watch videos and read more about the plenaries »

Ten rountables held discussions on the Middle East peace process, the role of youth in the Arab Spring, Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, and many other issues.
Watch videos and read more about the roundtables »

Five working groups were convened to discuss and recommend action on issues in U.S. relations with the Islamic world, which were summarized in a paper published by the Brookings Institution. They are as follows:

Muslim-Majority and Muslim-Minority Communities in a Global Context
Humera Khan, Executive Director, Muflehun
Imam Mohamed Magid, President, Islamic Society of North America

Disconnected Narratives Between the United States and Global Muslim Communities
Ambassador Marc Ginsberg, Senior Vice President, APCO Worldwide
Anne Hagood, Managing Editor, The Layalina Review and The Chronicle, Layalina Productions

Higher Education Reform in the Arab World
Katherine Wilkins, Vice President for Communications, AMIDEAST

Building Capacity and Developing Leadership among American Muslims and Their Organizations
Brie Loskota, Managing Director, Center for Religion and Civic Culture, University of Southern California
Nadia Roumani, Co-Founder and Director, American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute, University of Southern California

The Role of Entrepreneurship and Job Creation in U.S.-Muslim Relations
Ahmed Younis, Senior Analyst, Gallup Center for Muslim Studies, and Director of Strategic Partnerships and Communications, Silatech
Mohamed Younis, Senior Analyst, Gallup Center for Muslim Studies

Forum Highlights:

Remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton » (state.gov)

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks at the 2011 U.S.-Islamic World Forum in Washington, D.C.

Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmad Bin Abdullah Al-Mahmoud, and Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu.

Time Magazine Editor and CNN host Fareed Zakaria moderates a panel with former U.S. National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Judeh, Senior Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister of Turkey Ibrahim Kalin, and U.S. Senator John Kerry.

(images courtesy of Paul Morse)

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2010 U.S.-Islamic World Forum

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 09:00:00 -0500

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February 13-15, 2010

Doha, Qatar

With a video message from U.S. President Barack Obama and an address from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World at Brookings and the Government of Qatar hosted the seventh annual U.S.-Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar, on February 13-15, 2010. Each year, the forum brings together leaders from across the Muslim world for dialogue with key U.S. officials and policymakers.

Among this year’s speakers and participants were prominent Muslim leaders and Obama Administration and other U.S. officials, including Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan; U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; White House Senior Director for Global Engagement Pradeep Ramamurthy; U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke; and U.S. Senator John Kerry, chairman, Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Watch Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's remarks »

During the forum five plenary sessions took place on topics such as the Obama administration's policies towards the Muslim world, the future of U.S.-Muslim world relations, and shared challenges to ensuring regional stability.
Read more about the plenary sessions »

During the forum four working groups were convened, each discussing a different issue in U.S. relations with the Muslim world. After the forum, the recommendations and analysis produced by each group were published in papers by the conveners.

New Media to Further Global Engagement
al-Husein N. Madhany, Participant, 2010 U.S.-Islamic World Forum

The Role of Religious Leaders and Religious Communities in Diplomacy
Stephen R. Grand, Director, U.S. Relations with the Islamic World
Durriya Badani, Deputy Director, U.S. Relations with the Islamic World

Transformative Partnerships in U.S.-Muslim World Relations: Empowering Networks for Community Development and Social Change
Peter Mandaville, Co-Director, George Mason University Center for Global Studies

Scientific, Intellectual, and Governance Cooperation on Emerging Environmental Challenges in the Muslim World
David Michel, Senior Associate, The Stimson Center
Amit Pandya, Senior Associate and Director of the Regional Voices Transnational Challenges Project, The Stimson Center
Corey Sobel, Research Associate, The Stimson Center

Watch Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's remarks »

Watch President Barack Obama's video address announcing Rashad Hussain as his special envoy to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation:

Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani of Qatar, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Brookings Institution President Strobe Talbott

Saban Center Director Ken Pollack with Ashraf Ghani

Martin Indyk and U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-MA)

(Photos by Ralph Alswang)

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2009 U.S.-Islamic World Forum

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 10:00:00 -0500

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February 14-16, 2009

Doha, Qatar

Now in its sixth year, the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World and the Government of Qatar's U.S.-Islamic World Forum has become the foremost meeting for positive cross-cultural engagement among leaders from the United States and the Muslim world. The forum is designed to bring together key leaders in the worlds of politics, business, media, academia, and civil society from across the Muslim world – including Muslim communities in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East – and the United States.

Such institutionalized dialogue between leaders and opinion-shapers is an urgent necessity, in order to help prevent a fault line from forming between the West and the Muslim world. The forum is also designed to serve as both a convening body and catalyst for positive action. Its focus is on a dialogue that leads to the development of actionable programs for government, civil society, and the private sector.

The 2009 forum was held on February 14-16 in Doha, Qatar, featuring the theme, "Common Challenges." The forum boasted a thought-provoking and in-depth agenda strengthened by an excellent cadre of speakers and participants from over 30 countries around the world, including: Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah, deputy prime minister and minister of energy of Qatar; David Petraeus, commander of the U.S. Central Command; Barham Salih, deputy prime minister of Iraq; Madeleine Albright, former U.S. secretary of state; Anwar Ibrahim, former deputy prime minister of Malaysia and leader of the opposition; Hala Lattouf, minister of social development of Jordan; Keith Ellison (DFL, MN-5) and Brian Baird (D, WA-3); David Rubenstein, co-founder of the Carlyle Group; Ismail Serageldin, director of the Library of Alexandria; Thomas Fingar, former chairman of the National Intelligence Council; Aitzaz Ahsan, president of the Pakistani Supreme Court Bar Association; and many more.

The forum provides the foundation for a range of complementary activities designed to enhance the effectiveness of the dialogue. These include the assembling of task forces of policymakers and experts, and associated outreach, research, and publications. Collaborative media, education, and youth-centered programs help expand its impact.

Three task forces were convened during the forum, each focusing on different topics, including governance, security, and human devlopment. The conveners worked with members of their task forces to come up with a list of recommendations to confront issues identified prior to the forum, which were then published as papers:

Oil, Globalization, and Political Reform
Shibley Telhami, Nonresident Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy, Saban Center for Middle East Policy
Benjamin Smith, Associate Professor and Associate Chair, Department of Political Science, University of Florida
Michael Ross, Associate Professor of Political Science, UCLA
Steven Heydemann, Vice President of the Grants and Fellowships Program and Special Adviser to the Muslim World Initiative, United States Institute for Peace

Global Trends and Security in the Muslim World: Dilemmas for U.S. and Regional Policy
Stephen R. Grand, Director, U.S. Relations with the Islamic World
Tamara Cofman Wittes, Director, Middle East Democracy and Development Project
Thomas Fingar, Payne Distinguished Lecturer, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University
Jamal al Suwaidi, Director General, Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research, UAE

Displacement in the Muslim World
Hady Amr, Director, Brookings Doha Center
Elizabeth Ferris, Co-Director, Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement

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2008 U.S.-Islamic World Regional Forum in Kuala Lumpur

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0400

Event Information

October 13-14, 2008

Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia

The 2008 U.S.-Islamic World Regional Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, was a regional version of the annual U.S.-Islamic World Forum that the Brookings Institution has convened for the last five years in Doha, Qatar, in partnership with the Government of the State of Qatar. This forum was held on October 13-14, and was intended to be a smaller, more regional dialogue that focuses specifically on Southeast Asia, its relationship with the United States as well as the broader Muslim world, and the lessons to be learned from its unique histories and complex societies.

A sense of shared experience and religious solidarity unite Muslims in Southeast Asia with their brethren living in the historic core of the Middle East. As such, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the ongoing “war on terror,” the potential for a nuclear Iran, and the stalled prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinians continue to resonate with Muslim Southeast Asians, and play a significant role in shaping attitudes and relations between Southeast Asian Muslims and the United States.

Yet Southeast Asia remains distinct – with its own unique trade and security networks, regional concerns, and experience with Islam and democracy – in its relationships with the United States, as well as the broader Muslim world. The United States has much to learn from the region’s handling of terrorist threats, as well as economic development and political consolidation. Similarly, the global Muslim community can gain from Southeast Asia’s efforts at democratic reform and the challenges of living in a multicultural and sectarian society. Finally, Muslim Southeast Asia can benefit from deepening their connections to the robust trade, security, and civil society networks that the United States and the broader Muslim world offer.

The forum, hosted by the Brookings Institution in partnership with The Asia Foundation and the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia, brought together 50 key leaders from Southeast Asia, the broader Muslim world, and the United States for open and frank dialogue directed at developing actionable programs for government, civil society, and the private sector. It featured focused plenary sessions on core issues concerning relations between the United States and Southeast Asia’s Muslim states and communities. It also included smaller task force discussions, anchored in specific case studies and led by top experts and leaders, on key thematic issues of concern to Southeast Asia and the United States: security, governance, and human development.

Emphasis was on the perspectives of, the challenges faced, and the lessons learned by Southeast Asian Muslims, the United States, and the broader Muslim world in grappling with some of these key issues, and their relevance to relations between them. Following the forum’s conclusion, ISIS organized an optional full-day tour of Kuala Lumpur, as well as meetings with key Malaysian officials, for our U.S. participants.

Over its five-year history, the U.S.-Islamic World Forum has built a unique network of relationships between leading policy and opinion leaders in the United States and the Muslim world. Past participants have included such luminaries as Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Chairman of the African Union Commission Alpha Oumar Konaré, Secretary General of the Arab League Amre Moussa, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns, former president Bill Clinton, Commander of the U.S. Central Command William J. Fallon, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former U.S. National Security Advisor Samuel R. Berger, Muhammadiyah chairman M. Din Syamsuddin, Council on Foreign Relations President Richard N. Haass, Editor-at-Large of Lebanon’s Daily Star Rami Khouri, journalist Thomas Friedman, Egyptian televangelist Amr Khaled, prominent cleric Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, and many others.

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2008 U.S.-Islamic World Forum

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:00:00 -0500

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February 16-18, 2008

Doha, Qatar

The 2008 U.S.-Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar, brought together key leaders in the fields of politics, business, media, academia, and civil society from across the Muslim world and the United States. The forum is a positive cross-cultural engagement among leaders from the United States and the Muslim world.

The theme for the 2008 forum was, "New Directions: The Opportunities and Challenges Ahead in the U.S.-Muslim World Relationship." Speakers and participants came from over 30 countries around the world, including Afghan President Hamid Karzai, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan, U.S. Admiral William J. Fallon, Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat, U.N. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzhad, Egyptian televangelist Amr Khaled, Muhammadiyah chairman M. Din Syamusuddin, TIME columnist Joe Klein, former Palestinian Foreign Minister Ziad Abu Amr, Senator Evan Bayh (D-Indiana), former U.S. National Security Advisor Samuel Berger, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Susan Rice, Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haass, former Assistant Secretary of Defense Peter Rodman, Professor Francis Fukuyama, and many more.

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2007 U.S.-Islamic World Forum

Sat, 17 Feb 2007 00:00:00 -0500

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February 17-19, 2007

Doha, Qatar

The 2007 U.S.-Islamic World Forum, held from February 17-19, brought together leaders from over 37 Muslim countries and communities for vital dialogue and unfettered exchange with American leaders. The 200 global leaders gathered at the Forum came from the realms of politics, business, media, academia, arts, science, and civil society. Guided by the theme of Confronting What Divides Us, the forum covered issues ranging from the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Iraq, Iran, and Lebanon, to the respective roles of religion and government to broader developmental concerns. The often heated exchanges on many of these issues underlined not only the current gulf between the United States and the Muslim states and communities, but also the vital need for this kind of frank and open dialogue.

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2006 U.S.-Islamic World Forum

Sat, 18 Feb 2006 00:00:00 -0500

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February 18-20, 2006

Doha, Qatar

The 2006 U.S.-Islamic World Forum was held February 18-20 in Doha, Qatar. A global leaders conference, the forum brought together over 180 American and Muslim world leaders from the realms of politics, business, media, academia, arts, science, and civil society. Thirty-eight countries were represented, with 23 sessions over the course of the forum, covering issues ranging from Iraq and the Danish cartoon controversy to development concerns and the role of artist as a public figure. The theme of the 2006 U.S.-Islamic World Forum was "Leaders Effect Change," with a focus on understanding the changes sweeping relations, while at the same time developing strategies for shaping change towards positive ends. In a time of great tension, it provided an important demonstration that a middle ground of respectful dialogue, shared interests, mutual concerns, and joint solutions does exist.

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2005 U.S.-Islamic World Forum

Sun, 10 Apr 2005 00:00:00 -0400

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April 10-12, 2005

Doha, Qatar

The 2005 U.S.-Islamic World Forum was held on April 10-12 in Doha, Qatar, and hosted more than 160 leaders from the United States and 35 Muslim countries. It was a diverse and distinguished group, with the attendees ranging from ministers of governments and CEOs of corporations to deans of universities and editors of newspapers.

These luminaries from the fields of politics, business, civil society, academia, science, and the news media participated in sessions which assessed the state of U.S.–Islamic world relations, the Middle East peace process, progress in political and economic reform, the impact of elections, security, good governance, human development, and the role of the press and public opinion. In addition, special leader seminars were convened on science and technology issues and business and economic concerns.

Transcript

Forum Proceedings (.pdf)

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2004 U.S.-Islamic World Forum

Sat, 10 Jan 2004 00:00:00 -0500

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January 10-12, 2004

Doha, Qatar

The inaugural event of the U.S.-Islamic World Forum was held in Doha, Qatar on January 10-12, 2004. The conference convened some 150 leaders in politics, business, academe, media, and civil society from the United States and 38 Muslim countries, with the goal of encouraging dialogue and improving relations between the United States and the Islamic world.

Former President Bill Clinton and Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of Qatar, were the keynote speakers. The forum is an initiative of the Saban Center's Brookings Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World.

TRANSCRIPT

Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar:

Your Excellencies, Dear Friends, Honourable Audience,

It is my pleasure to open this conference which is of special significance stemming from the importance of the theme it tackles, namely the Islamic – American Dialogue that we will all seek to promote and pursue in order to enhance the bases of mutual understanding between the Islamic World and the United States of America, and strengthen cooperation between them.

Permanent and candid dialogue at political, cultural, and academic levels is the means to consolidate our friendship on the bases of partnership, respect and mutual understanding, which have to be reinforced as principles for interaction among all countries and peoples.

Your conference also gains further importance due to the current international circumstances. The challenges we all face make it imperative upon us to exert efforts to settle existing regional crises and conflicts, foremost of which is the Arab-Israeli conflict, through peaceful means.

Conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories have deteriorated to an unacceptable extent because of the practices of Israel's forces of occupation marked by excessive violence that violates the rules of international law, the U.N. principles and resolutions and human rights.

Our Islamic World wonders why the international community refrains from exercising pressure on Israel to make it withdraw from the occupied Arab territories at a time when all pressures fall on the Arab side alone. Hence, we believe it is necessary for the United States, the sponsor of the peace process, and the international community to further their efforts aiming at ending the continuing violence so that it becomes possible to return to negotiations and implementation of the Road Map to realize the positive vision of President George W. Bush, which conforms with the principles of liberty and justice in which the U.S.A. believes, namely the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian State, living in peace side by side with Israel.

Needless to say that the realization of durable and just peace in the Middle East also requires Israel's complete withdrawal from all Arab territories it occupied in 1967, including Syrian territories and the rest of occupied Lebanese lands, in the framework of the comprehensive settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Honourable Audience,

Last year witnessed grave events, the most significant of which was, perhaps, the invasion of Iraq, the repercussions of which we have to deal with wisdom and realism. We view the situation in Iraq from the perspective of basic principles, namely: the necessity of preserving the unity of Iraq; helping it to come out of the ordeal it had suffered for so long, and enabling it to regain its independence and sovereignty and choose its leadership in a free, democratic way, since a democratic Iraq will contribute considerably to consolidating security and stability in the region and pave the way for the return of the land of civilizations to its natural place in the international community.

At the same time, we the Arabs and Muslims throughout the world have to solve the problems and crisis that face our countries and communities, many of which are due to inherent factors. We have to carry our political, economic and cultural reforms to broaden popular participation and democratic practice to have a better future for our coming generations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Through candid and constructive dialogue in this conference, we hope to achieve the goals we all seek to realize. I am pleased to take this opportunity to announce that, in line with our conviction in the importance of this dialogue and necessity of maintaining and encouraging it, "The Permanent Forum For the American-Islamic Dialogue", which we called for its creation at your previous conference held here in Doha last y ear, has taken its first practical steps by the establishment of 'Qatar-Brookings Project' which will assume the permanent supervision of the work of this conference and its subsequent sessions, and which will include the opening of a permanent headquarters for the Forum here in Doha, which will have an international advisory board consisting of world figures, to follow up this mission and plan for its future activities for promoting ways of better understanding between the United States and the Islamic world.

Our goal and ambition is to contribute to deepening understanding, promoting cooperation and increasing rapprochement between the peoples and communities of the world. This requires first of all a dialogue and communication between our countries, cultures and civilizations. We believe in the interaction of cultures and civilizations and reject the concepts of their conflict. Islam as a religion, culture and a civilization is a basic and vital part of the whole cultures, civilizations and religions that shaped throughout the centuries and generations the modern world and its heritage. The on-going dialogue between our countries and societies today is a continuation of the fruitful dialogue and interaction that has for so long characterized the historical relations between our peoples. Let us preserve this rich legacy and do our best to enrich, deepen and promote it for the good of the peoples of the entire world.

I thank you for your attendance and wish you and your conference all success.

May the peace, the mercy and blessings of God be upon you.

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