High-Level Meeting on Beyond Populism: Economic Challenges and Opportunities in Democratic Transitions (Rabat, 5-6 February 2013)

Theme I: From Autocracy to Democracy: The Voices of the Many and Decisions of the Few

Session I: Restless Democrats: Managing Expectations beyond Populist Policies

Moderator: Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Secretary, ESCAP
[English | Arabic]

(i) Windows of Opportunity: Constructing Developmental States in Democratic Transitions

Speaker: Korn Chatikavanij, Former Minister of Finance, Thailand
[English | Arabic]

(ii) Innovative Partnerships or a Game of Musical Chairs: The Public-Private Nexus

Speaker: Rizal Ramli, Former Minister for Finance, Indonesia
[English | Arabic]

(iii) Planting the Seeds for Democratic Success: The Economic and Fiscal Challenges for Countries in Transition

Speaker: Fouad al Sanyoura, Former Prime Minister of Lebanon
[English | Arabic]

Session II: Growth and Social Equity: Policy Trade-Offs

Moderator: Antonio Prado, Deputy Executive Secretary, ECLAC
[English | Arabic]

(i) Equitable Development of the People, for the People: Options for Public Finance

Speaker: Gouda Abdel-Khalek, Former Minister for Supply and Domestic Trade, Egypt
[English | Arabic]

(ii) Building a Democracy of Citizens: The Right to Employment and Decent Work

Speaker: Elena Salgado, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Spain
[English | Arabic]

(iii) From the Street to the Political Arena: Islamist Parties between Ideology and Economic Policies

Speaker: Numan Kurtulmuş, Deputy Chairman for Economic Affairs, Justice and Development Party, Turkey
[English | Arabic]

Theme II: External Support and National Sovereignty: Navigating the Minefield

Session III: External Support to Fledgling Democracies: A Blessing or a Curse?

Moderator: Haytham Manna, Spokesperson for the Arab Commission for Human Rights Syria
[English | Arabic]

(i) Empowered Democrats and Competing Demands: Managing Natural Resources

Speaker: Einar Steensnaes, Former Minister of Petroleum and Energy of Norway, Senior Advisor, Oslo Center for Peace and Human Rights
[English | Arabic]

(ii) Mind the Gap: International Civil Society Organizations and State Sovereignty

Speaker: Houriya Mashour, Minister for Human Rights, Yemen
[English | Arabic]

(iii) To Catch a Thief: Recuperating Stolen Assets

Speaker: Bertrand Louis, Swiss Ambassador in Morocco
[English | Arabic]

Session IV: One People, Different Identities: Regional Integration and Cooperation

Moderator: Tarik Mitri, Special Representative of Secretary-General to Libya
[English | Arabic]

(i) Returns on Investment: National Interest, Official Development Assistance (ODA) and External Loans

Speaker: Mohamed Najib Boulif, Delegate Minister for General Affairs and Governance, Morocco
[English | Arabic]

(ii) The European Union and Regional Integration: Models and Policy Options

Speaker: Carlos Westendorp, Secretary General, Club de Madrid
[English | Arabic]

(iii) Arab Uprisings and the Spillover Effect

Speaker: Ziad Fariz, Governor of the Central Bank of Jordan and Former Deputy Prime Minister, Jordan
[English | Arabic]

Round-table Discussion: People Power: Translating Political Influence into Economic Vision and Action

Moderator: Rima Khalaf, Executive Secretary, ESCWA

Libya

Mahmoud Gebril, President of the National Forces Alliance, Former Prime Minister of Libya
[English | Arabic]

Morocco

Idriss Azami Al-Idrissi, Minister in charge of the Budget
[English | Arabic]

Tunisia

Ridha Saidi, State Minister for Economic and Social Affairs
[English | Arabic]

Jordan

Jawad Annani, President of the Economic and Social Council of Jordan, Former Deputy Prime Minister
[English | Arabic]