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March 2008
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Cover Story

Doha Forum Agrees to Iron Out Differences Between US, Muslim World
Doha


The Fifth US-Islamic World Forum concluded here recently on a positive note with the delegates expressing their determination to take the dialogue to wider areas and try to narrow down differences. "There was a general feeling that ignorance and paranoia are keeping the two sides divided. Mutual respect has emerged as the key word for fostering better relations and understanding," said Carlos Pascual, Vice-President and Director of Foreign Policy Studies at Brookings, the US, while giving the concluding remarks at the conference. Use of words was one the major issues raised in the discussions. "There was an agreement among the participants not to use terms like Islamic terrorism. Terrorism is un-Islamic and Muslims are among the victims of terrorism,"


Pascual said it was proposed to use "violent extremism" while referring to terrorism.


Most participants expressed concern over the growing military budget in the US and called for a shift in focus. They felt the need to develop partnerships instead of unilateralism, and end conflicts that widen the chasm between the US and the Islamic world. The delegates urged to pursue the two-state formula to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian issue and called for a viable political solution to the Iraqi crisis. Democracy was another hotly debated issue in the conference. The discussions focused on the forms of democracy, ownership of democracy, dialectics between faith and state and tolerance and choice. The need to provide more space for non-state organizations in the Islamic world was underlined, said Pascual.


The alleged human rights violations in Guantanamo Bay raised concern among the delegates, with many of them calling for closing down this detention camp. A participant expressed hope that opening of the Brookings Institution Doha Center would promote research focusing on the region, with participation of regional counterparts. Another delegate proposed to identify the differences in perceptions among the two sides as well as the areas of common interest, which he felt would help in future discussions.


There was also a proposal to involve more policy makers as well as members of the American business community in the future forums. Pascual said the purpose of the Forum was to provide a link between politicians, intellectuals and policy makers in the US and the Islamic world to foster better understanding.(IINA)

Makkah, Madinah to be Linked with Rail
Jeddah

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has ordered the implementation of the Makkah-Jeddah-Madinah railway project using Saudi local funds, Transport Minister Dr. Jabara Al-Seraisry announced on February 20.


He said the directive would speed up the implementation of the project known as Makkah-Madinah Rail Link (MMRL), which is estimated to cost Saudi Riyal 20 billion ($5.33 billion) and bring about revolutionary changes in the transportation of pilgrims between the two holy cities.


The minister said the MMRL, designed to operate trains with a speed of over 300 km per hour, would reduce travel time between Jeddah and Makkah to 30 minutes and between Jeddah and Madinah to not more than two hours.


The MMRL includes the construction of approximately 500 km of new high-speed electrified railway lines between Jeddah and Makkah and between Jeddah and Madinah. Railway lines will be equipped with modern signaling and telecommunications systems.


“We have already finalized the route for the rail project and identified the locations for stations in Makkah, Jeddah and Madinah,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted the minister as saying. He said the project would improve the quality of public transport in the Kingdom.


An informed source told Arab News that special committees are currently surveying the land along the route to implement the project. The committees will also estimate the money to be paid to land owners in compensation after land acquisition.


MMRL will have stations at Jeddah Islamic Port, King Abdul Aziz International Airport and King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh, the source said, adding that it would pass by the eastern border of Jeddah.


Six consortia — the Al-Rajhi Consortium, the Saudi Binladin Group, Saudi Oger, the Saudi Japanese Consortium, the Al-Sholah Consortium and the OHL International — are vying for the contract.


In a previous statement, Al-Seraisry said the six consortia would be invited to submit their tenders within a few months. Railway contractors believe that the project would be awarded to one consortium or two consortia by the beginning of 2009 after completing studies on financial and technical offers.


The MMRL is part of a major railway expansion programme, which involves the construction of 950 km of new tracks between Riyadh and Jeddah and a 115 km line between Dammam and Jubail


The MMRL aims to provide a safe, fast, and comfortable mode of transport for an estimated 10 million Umrah and Haj pilgrims traveling between the two holy cities and Jeddah. The project will be implemented on a design, build, operate and transfer (DBOT) basis.


Highlighting the profitability of the project, Al-Seraisry said the MMRL would make Saudi Riyal 500 million by 2010 and Saudi riyal 750 million by 2030. The populations of Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah are collectively in excess of five million. Jeddah is home to about 2.8 million people.