FRIDE - Interviews with Kjell Magne Bondevik and Sadig al-Mahdi

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Interviews with Kjell Magne Bondevik and Sadig al-Mahdi

22/09/2008 By Publicaciones FRIDE

Beginning in early 2007, the Club of Madrid, in collaboration with FRIDE, embarked on a series of dialogue missions supported by the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) and the UN Democracy Fund to strengthen democracy and promote freedom of association in the Middle East and North Africa. During 2007 and 2008, the Club of Madrid and FRIDE travelled to 3 countries in the region, Bahrain, Jordan and Morocco, undertaking a series of missions in each.

Sadig al-Mahdi, former prime minister of Sudan

In this interview, Sadig al-Mahdi, the former Prime Minister of Sudan and a Member of the Club of Madrid, observes that foreign mediation concerning domestic issues is normally frowned upon in the MENA region: "However, for the Club of Madrid, they made an exception, they welcomed the Club of Madrid." According to Kjell Magne Bondevik the Club of Madrid has now formulated "concrete" recommendations that will be conveyed to the highest levels of government in each country during the latter part of 2008 and early 2009.

Kjell Magne Bondevik, former prime minister of Norway

Sadig al-Mahdi, a renowned Arab intellectual, has given much thought to democratic reform in an Islamic context. He observes that Islamic movements which embrace "pluralism" and accept democratic values should not be confused with those that reject democracy and thrive on "arrested reform".