Palais des Nations, Geneva
Friday, 23 January 2009
Introduction
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
• First of all let me welcome you all to Switzerland for this launch of the report about "Cost of Conflict in the Middle East”. It is a great pleasure for my government to co-host this event with our partner the Strategic Foresight Group. I would like to commend the Strategic Foresight Group for the work done and to emphasise the commitment from the Swiss side to disseminate the results of this report. I also take this opportunity to thank the governments of Qatar, Turkey and Norway that supported the realization of the report, the numerous distinguished experts from the Middle East as well as GCSP and the UN office here in Geneva.
Report
• The research project “Cost of Conflict in the Middle East” was initiated as an innovative approach to engage the broad public, experts and leaders of the Middle East to reflect on how much they have lost because of the conflicts, and how much more they could lose in the future. Or, to put it positively, how much everybody could win should peace eventually happen.
Current challenges
• Conflicts in the Middle East have persisted for at least sixty years. As the recent dramatic events in the region have shown, the economic and, more importantly, the human costs of conflict are enormous. The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs strongly deplores the disastrous humanitarian situation in Gaza and welcomes the cessation of hostilities. Nevertheless, the situation remains fragile and prone to escalation. A comprehensive agreement, embedding all involved parties, is needed in order to maintain a sustainable ceasefire and prevent any further escalation of the conflict. Furthermore, new initiatives and particularly new broader approaches are definitely needed in order to reach the ultimate goal – a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
Conclusions
• In our view, this very timely report has the potential to impact in several ways. Firstly, the Middle East has always been a strategically important region where many outside players are involved. Considering the enormity of the costs evidenced in this report, which have direct or indirect negative consequences for the whole world, the urgent necessity of a stronger international engagement is inescapable. Indeed, it is in the best national interest of all countries in the world to see the conflicts in the Middle East being solved. Thus, the report gives further ground to all concerned international actors why they should urgently intensify their efforts for a lasting solution. They certainly wish to take their own profit of the dividends of peace.
• Secondly, this report should sensitise different audiences all over the Middle East and the wider world. Experts, opinion leaders and decision makers will find many concrete, precise arguments in the report to promote peace-oriented policies. But the public at large in the Middle East will also easily realize that, beyond speeches and rhetoric, peace would bring tangible results in their own life. Last but not least, this report is aimed at the young generation, for it will suffer or benefit from the decisions their elders will take now and in the years to come. Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you for your attention.
 Print this Article
|
