Promoting mutual comprehension between peoples to the North and South of the Mediterranean

Abstract

Social well-being in the second half of the twentieth century and beyond can only be achieved through respect for human dignity and recognition of individual sovereignty and all human rights. These rights are best practised and protected under a democratic system of government. Otherwise, individuals and societies are bound to feel insecure and hence their respective states will never be peaceful. Kantian logic places democracy at the heart of peaceful conflict resolution. According to this reasoning, neighbouring democracies should be the safest group of nations. Despite this, to the south of the Mediterranean there are ten countries which have, in the last fifty years, somehow been involved in 20% of the world's armed conflicts. The Barcelona Mediterranean Partnership Declaration of 1994 was meant to bridge the gap which exists between the South and North of the Mediterranean. However, tolerance is a necessary condition for co-operation and partnership within the Mediterranean. Since new Europeans of Arab-Muslim origin constitute the largest cultural/ religious minority group of Western Europe, Europeans have to practice "multiculturalism" on both regional and national levels. :Migration should also be regulated through multilateral arrangements. Ultimately, however, migration can only really be controlled by eradicating its root causes through sustainable comprehensive development. Both sides of the Mediterranean want prosperity and peace and they equally want to assist one another. To pursue these objectives, they must respect each others' cultural traditions.