Second Conference on Democracy & Free Trade
"History has given us lasting lessons and insights which demonstrate that the nations which have armed themselves with science, shielded themselves with knowledge, upheld democracy and respected human rights were the ones which have succeeded to stand up to challenges, surmount difficulties and build the societies that could adopt responsible freedom as a means for building themselves and supporting their establishments."

H.H. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani,

Emir of the State of Qatar

In March 2002, Qatar's Second Conference on Democracy and Free Trade was held under the patronage of His Highness, The Emir,Sheikh Hamad Bin Khaifa Al Thani.

Held within the general framework of Qatar's determination to uphold the concept of democratization and as part of its continued efforts to lay the foundation of democratic principles by intensifying the pioneering experiment of public participation, the conference went a step further than the First Conference held in 2001.

The 2002 conference aimed at preparing the ground for dialogue and the collective studying of global democratic experiments on the basis of cultural diversity.

The comprehensiveness and broadness of scope of this conference was best demonstrated by the delegations of intellectuals, experts, parliamentarians, diplomats, and Academicians who came from a wide range of countries from all corners of the continent including the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the United States of America, Egypt, Libya, Britain, France, Italy, Russia, Pakistan, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, Sudan, Iran, Yemen, South Korea, Palestine, Chili, India, Poland, Portugal, Czeck, Mexico, Mali and South Africa.

Major issues and themes discussed at the 2nd conference were:

• Structuring Open markets and its impact on Economic Growth.

• The Role of women in Democratic society.

• Terrorism, Threat to Dialogue and Civilization.

• The Role of Media on Promoting Dialogue of Civilizations.

• The Role of Technology in Emerging Markets.

• Muslim-Christian Dialogue.

• Components of Democratic society.

Second Conference Schedule