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Forum Ends Without Declaration
 The two-day Forum for the Future to promote US plans for ushering in democracy in the Middle East ended yesterday without adopting a final declaration. The second day of the forum also witnessed sharp US criticism of Syria and a Damascus rejoinder. Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Shara later left Manama without attending a group photo gathering for the participating foreign ministers.A final declaration could not be adopted because Egypt tried to introduce language which the United States said would restrict aid groups. âObviously we are not pleased,â said a senior State Department official at the conclusion of the forum. The Egyptian delegation was not immediately available for comment but a Gulf diplomat said other Arab countries also had reservations about the document and Egypt was not alone. Posted by: Fred 2005-11-13 |
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