Dubai: Focusing on building human capabilities and the human capital is important for a better Arab world following the Arab unrest, speakers said on the first day of the Arab Media Forum.
In a session titled “Arab Unrest: The Post Era”, a discussion revolving around the recovery process of the Arab world and the challenges being faced in Arab countries were addressed.
Dr Fahed Al Shelaimi, president, Gulf Security and Peace Forum, said the Arab Spring ushered in a debilitating period with Arab countries straddling huge economical and human losses.
“We are currently trying to predict how these [Arab] countries will look within a few years, and there are many restrictions that make it hard to predict this. I believe the minimum estimation for reconstruction will be 15 years. During the Kuwait liberation period, which is a small country with high income, the reconstruction process took 15 years,” he said.
Various problems need to be diagnosed, Al Shelaimi added. “We are witnessing political, social, economic, security and international challenges and the economic challenges are going to be the most important determining factor until 15 years.”
Emadeldin Hussain, editor-in-chief of Al Sherouk newspaper, said the Arab world has become a subject of other peoples’ plans and the only way the crisis could end is when these players stop interfering. “The main issue to be addressed is the sectarian strife, then we can address reconstruction. There is a vicious war on in social media on Sunnis and Shias.”
“There is a clear conspiracy by some Western countries who want to send this area backward. We need to have proper education focusing on equality. When we build human capabilities and human capital, it will be the best defence for us,” Hussain added.
Arab Spring, he said, was a genuine desire of Arabs to live a decent life, but it was mis-utilised by extremist groups.
“We need education that focuses on showing that we are one united Arab entity and the media should pick up on such messages and avoid heating up the situation. Then, we can find way out of the crisis,” he said.
