Interview: Amre Moussa, Arab League (page 1 of 2)

Q. It seems that the West wants the Arab world to change. What do you think of this?

A. My opinion is that all countries and all regions need to change. The notion of change is not a dirty notion or a rejected notion. We in the Middle East and the Arab world know that we need to move ahead to change a lot of things we have in our societies and our systems. We need to do that in order to be better, and not to serve the interests of others.

To take this from a suspicious point of view would be to say that part of this change is simply to force the Arab world to accept Israel as it is. The change has to change the attitude of Israel and to stop the hegemonistic, aggressive attitude vis-à-vis the Palestinians.

In other words, we are pro-change, but we are not going to be pushed around by imposed changes. At the same, as those who want to change the Middle East must understand that Israel has to change if they want the Middle East to change.

Q. Do you feel that those imposed changes from the West will work or do you think that Arab society needs to take a totally different path?

A. Unfortunately, the term 'change' has been tarnished by the fact that certain circles have confused everything with everything else. For example, the relationship with Israel has been confused with the war against Baghdad.

The credibility of the term 'change' has been adversely affected by bundling everything together in one package. There is nothing wrong with the US, for example, calling for change in any region of the world - had there been no strings attached to Israel or Iraq.

Q. Do you believe in the clash of civilizations?

A. There is a clash of civilizations, and there is a maltreatment of Muslims in many capitals and cities around the world. This is not a matter of thought or opinion, but a matter of fact.

Muslims are being maltreated in many airports, cities, universities and companies. The international newspapers are full of stories of that nature. Therefore, the Arab world is not reading about a clash of civilizations, it is suffering from a clash of civilizations.

There is a clash of civilizations, but this is not between us and the West, but certain circles in the West - between us and certain lobby groups. That's why I want to avoid the word 'West' versus the Arab world. It is not so. There are certain circles and lobby groups that have certain vested interests in confusing and adversely affecting the relations between the West in general and the Arab world.

Q. If you look at any country in the West, then you find some kind of maltreatment of Muslims. So why not say the entire West?

A. Because it would be misleading if we refer to the whole West.

Q. But do you feel that Western governments have been acting badly?

A. Not all of them, I must say. At least I like to think that way.

Q. Do you feel that the Arab world has changed over the last 40 years? Would it benefit from adopting a Western model?

A. There is a lot of stagnation in the Arab world. There is a need to change and a need to move ahead. This need is apparent, and it will happen. It is already happening, but we need a new Middle East to emerge.

Q. What would this new Middle East look like five or 10 years from now?

A. You have to think in terms of social development, education, knowledge, economic cooperation and coordination, and democracy. There is process that is going on that also has to take hold of the political systems.