"When we talk about democracy, I see a political system where there is a free competition for power at all levels and a system which provides for civil and human rights," said Sundeep V. Waslekar, President, Strategic Foresight Group, India. He then asked panellists how they see democracy developing in the Middle East.

Fouad Siniora, Prime Minister of Lebanon, said that over the past few decades, democracy in the Arab world has been gaining more momentum and that globalization has been contributing to the process. "I have a strong belief that we are moving to more democracy in the Arab world with civil society playing an important role," he said. "Democracy will not only benefit the Arab world, but the world around us."

But he added that resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict and Palestinian situation is important to moving democracy in the Arab world in the right direction.

Responding to the prime minister, Abdel Monem Said Aly, Director, Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies (ACPSS), Egypt, said that solving the Arab-Israeli conflict should not be central to how the rest of the Arab world lives, and that democracy is faced with numerous challenges that are much deeper than the conflict. "We have different challenges for democratization in different countries," Said Aly commented. "But there is no excuse for being slow."

Massouma Al Mubarak, Minister of Planning and Minister of State for Administrative Development Affairs of Kuwait, said that constitutions in Arab countries are not enough to guarantee democracy, but they have to be implemented and respected by those in power and by the people. "Democracy is not just about choosing a parliament member and having an election every few years," the minister said. "Democracy has to be supported by people �€� We have to believe in it as a way of life." She also underlined the importance of gender equality; there can be no democracy without woman having a fair share in the process.

Mona S. Zulficar, Attorney-at-Law, Shalakany Law Office, Egypt, also highlighted the importance of woman in the democratic process, as well as other elements of civil society, including the role of non-governmental organizations and youth. "Young people need to have the choice to be politically active," she said. "If we empower civil society to fill the political vacuum, then the next generation will have choices and can exercise their freedom. This is the way to democratization."

Gordon H. Smith, Senator from Oregon (Republican), USA, expressed optimism about the formation of Iraq's new national unity government and steps towards democracy there and elsewhere in the Arab world. "At the end of the day there are different democracies," he said. "The most important election is not the first but the second where power can be passed from one administration to the next [peacefully]."

Lebanese Prime Minister Siniora said a long process has begun but it's not possible to talk yet about democracy in Iraq. "Nothing can work if democracy is imposed," he said. "It has to be home grown."