Why is the Arab League still relevant today? For the same reasons that the United Nations is still relevant or the African Union is still relevant. There are many people who would argue, though, that those two organizations aren’t exactly relevant … Yes, there are people in the Arab world who argue What is the use of the Arab League? Those are people who are thinking in a different way but the Arab League as a regional organization brings all Arab countries together and could be the regional organization that will bring together all other Middle Eastern countries later on. Could be, you say? Could be, of course. It would be a very important thing that there is an organization with committees, agencies, and so on that would help stabilize the situation in the Middle East. This formula has to be there, has to be put in place and the idea then is to build on it and that’s what I am trying to do. What does the Arab League need to do? How does it need to change to become more effective on the ground or does it need to? Well, it is in fact more effective than before because we are working in the social and economic fields rather than elsewhere. We cannot just be about capturing the headlines … Could you point to an endeavor you have engaged in recently, just one example perhaps? Family planning, the new trend about intellectual property, the question of women, the question of children with special needs. All that is being taken care of by the Arab League and there is a very powerful economic and social council that is now emerging as a commanding body to accept and launch the developmental policies. There is a parliament now in the League, a provisional one, which will form later on as the legislative arm of the organization. So there are several ‘themes’ that affect everybody in the Middle East and the Arab world, which you feel you are capable of addressing. We can do better, of course, but with more money, more support, wider horizons … Now the Arab League is much better than it was a few years back. I mean, it is possible to say so because there is a lot more discussion about the Arab League now whereas previously no one talked much about the Arab League. What are your particular horizons, what would you like to see moving forward? What powers would you like the Arab League to assume? I want to have the social and economic issues espoused by all the Arab countries brought forward in the knowledge that this organization can be most useful on these issues in addition to the political issues. At one time, the organization had but one issue, which was the Palestinian issue. Now, we are working on a host of issues, among them security. It’s a different organization. What is the biggest social problem the Arab world faces today? Lack of education. Would you like the Arab League to have a hand in education, perhaps going so far developing curricula? Perhaps reviewing the curricula and bringing them in line with 21st century requirements but preserving the basics. Education remains the focal point of attention and I am going to submit a new proposal on that during the next summit. Do you see population growth in the Middle East as a crisis in the making or as a potential opportunity? The latter. As long as there is development there will be a place for everyone. The usual [population] increase can be dealt with if there is economic progress and social policies are sound. What sort of progress are you making as far as the League’s relations with the rest of the world is concerned? We are engaged with the European Union, we have always been with the African countries, with the United Nations, with Latin America, with the United States, with Asia. We have a forum with China and are building a forum with Japan. We are expanding internationally; this is the age of globalization. We cannot live behind closed doors. Even today I objected to someone saying that we have to mind our business first. I said the word ‘first’ is incorrect. We are living in a global world now. You said that four-five years ago people paid only lip service, in terms of social issues, to the league but that that has now improved. But the League still looks to me more like a political talking shop than an active organization. I will not deny that; any organization is partly a talking shop. But we shouldn’t exaggerate this.

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