Arab unity imperative to foster peace and economic growth says former German Chancellor, Gerhard Schröder

Schroder has maintained close ties with the region and will be one of the speakers at the forthcoming Abu Dhabi World Leadership Summit scheduled for the 21st of November 2006.

Stressing on the need for strong leadership at this hour, Gerhard Schroder maintained that "Violence and the threat of violence are not suitable means by which you get anyone to the negotiating table. Therefore, there is no alternative but to continue with diplomacy and negotiations. That is the major challenge of leadership in the region." He said.

Gerhard Schröder is the first of a new generation of vibrant German leaders. He took on the newly reunited Germany and boldly ushered the world's third largest economy into the 21st century. A charismatic and powerful national figure, Gerhard Schröder was elected Chancellor in 1998.

"In his seven years in office, Gerhard Schröder did more to modernize Germany's economy than had been accomplished in decades. Chancellor Schröder increased his country's influence on a global level by taking strong stands on global issues. It is these experiences and traits that we see him sharing at the upcoming leadership summit." Said Mohammed Shareef Abdul Raheem, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Global Events - organizers of the Abu Dhabi World Leadership Summit.

The Abu Dhabi World Leadership Summit brings some of the world's most influential minds and global ambassadors, all live and in person on one platform. This forum has emerged as one of the World's largest annual leadership forums, attracting more than 1300 like minded, successful business and political delegates from across the region last year.

This year the list of the distinguished speakers include The Hon. George Bush Sr., the 41st President of the United States, H.E. Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority, Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first-ever Prime Minister and current Minister Mentor, H.E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Economy apart form Gerhard Schröder.

The main aim of the summit is to empower delegates with knowledge from the experiences of some of the world's most powerful leaders apart from enhancing leadership development skills, competitive business development, management tactics, networking, relationship building among others.