June 9, 2004, President Bush declared a modified and extended policy, ‘the Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative(BMENAI)’. In this day, President Bush led the G-8 in establishing a historic "Partnership for Progress and a Common Future" with ...
June 9, 2004, President Bush declared a modified and extended policy, ‘the Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative(BMENAI)’. In this day, President Bush led the G-8 in establishing a historic "Partnership for Progress and a Common Future" with the Broader Middle East and North Africa to support efforts to advance democracy, freedom, prosperity and reform I this region.
In Sum, the US idea to impose the American type of democracy upon the Greater Middle Eastern countries that have different cultural, religious and historical background was not welcomed by the most of the concerned countries, especially the Arabs. Positions of the Arab countries were categorized into three: the first group included the ones that supported the idea, the second was those who called for dialogue with the US and the third was those who rejected the initiative completely.
In this context, three paper were dealt.
In case of Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Arabian foreign policies were affected by the American Initiative policy at the same time the Saudi Arabia responses to the American Foreign policy. According to this analysis framework, the details of American Democracy, market economy, War against Terrorism in the Saudi Arabia are studied.
In this contest the Saudi Arabia accepts the American Initiative. For example, the Saudi Arabia proclaims the War against the terrorism. So the Saudi Arabia continues to reform within the scope of Islamic values. While the American foreign policies like the Middle East Initiative have not effect on reform of the Saudi Arabia because of saudi's dependence on oil, the weak of political will, the opposition of outside interferences. Namely the pursuit of the interest, the pursuit of independent security, the cooperation with GCC states, cooperation with European states and Asian states are principals of Saudi Arabian foreign polices within relative autonomy.
In case of Syria, the paper studies the reaction of the Syrian Arab Republic to the initiative. Syria ,which is one of the two countries that did not sign a peace accord with Israel, rejected the initiative. Along the study, the relation between the US and the Middle East in general and between US and Syria in particular are also considered. In conclusion, it became clear that Syria ,which is still considered by US as one of the countries that sponsor terrorism, supported the US in its was against terror at the beginning. With a new young president, Bashar al-Assad, since June 2000, Syria is well aware of the fact that political, economical and social reforms are required to enable the country to become an active member in the New World Order. Syria, under the pressure of the international community, withdrew its military forces from Lebanon in May 2005. Thus, the influence of Syria in Lebanon, which was one of the closest allies in the eyes of the Syrian Government in its war against Israel, has been weakened. Syria is at the crossroads for transformation.
Nevertheless, Syria rejects the reform imposed upon it by external pressure, especially by the US, which is a close ally of its archenemy, Israel, and which has maintained double standards in dealing with Middle Eastern issues. Syria continues to proceed on its own way for reform.
In case of Egypt, the paper studies the background and contents of GMEI in foreign policy of U.S.A, and how Egypt to respond to external pressure to reform.
Egypt responded the GMEI with ‘multicandidate presidential elections system through amendment of article 76 of constitution’ and a little of freedom of press. Reform proposals in Egypt, largely channeled through the ruling National Democratic Party(NDP), have been somewhat cosmetic and often motivated by the Egyptian government's desire to appear responsive to external (largely U.S.) pressure to reform. Egyptian response to external pressure requesting reform and democracy was accommodative, partial and limited.