Background:
Maria van der Hoeven is a Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party. She served as Minister of Economic Affairs from 2007-2011.
Side A:
The Dutch Minister Maria van der Hoeven is in Cairo on a visit the Dutch-Flemish institute. The first topic discussed was intercultural dialogue between the Arab world and Europe. Van der Hoeven said that she was a big supporter of Dutch institutes south of the Mediterranean Sea. Van der Hoeven was responsible for opening a Dutch Institute in Ankara and the continuation of the Dutch Institute in Damascus.
The Dutch institute invited several prominent individuals to discuss the intercultural dialogue between Islam and the West. One of those prominent individuals was Dr. ʿAbd ʼal-Muʿnim Saʿīd ʿAlī. According to van der Hoeven, Dr. ʿAbd ʼal-Muʿnim Saʿ īd ʿAlī had a very interesting story. He said that if you look at the present situation, there are many contradictions, and that a number of religious issues are being redefined. The place of religion in society was also discussed. One of the topics discussed was the separation between the state and religion. In Dr. Alī’s opinion, the place of religion in society shouldn’t be discussed by religious leaders. To Dr.ʿAlī, this is because religious leaders have trouble pointing out the differences within their own field. For example, businessmen should meet with other businessmen to discuss religion and the relationship between Islam and the west. This leads to new perspectives on cultural differences and the similarities.
Van der Hoeven said that the most important question now is, if it is indeed true that a different approach to Islamic-Western dialogue will work, how will the Dutch institutes in the Middle East contribute to the Islamic-west dialogue? Van der Hoeven said that she still hasn’t found an answer to this question, although she agrees that new groups should be brought together for dialogue.
Van der Hoeven gave an example about a contemporary discussion in the Netherlands. Often in the Netherlands, Muslim women don’t want to be treated by male doctors. According to van der Hoeven, people took this discussion out of context and therefore other new groups must be brought together to discuss matters like this.
The role of the Muslim Brotherhood was discussed. The Muslim Brotherhood is everywhere, and you can find them in different sizes and shapes. There are fundamentalists, moderates and liberals within the ranks of the group. Van der Hoeven said that people should not underestimate the Muslim Brotherhood. The Muslim Brotherhood is the opposite of the current political system in Egypt. The Muslim Brotherhood is against globalization with their ultimate goal is being centralisation which can lead to isolation. The problem is not the religion but fanaticism. Van der Hoeven said that Dr. ʿAlī contends that Europe must utilize their Muslim population and give them space to express themselves about Islamic matters such as radicalism and fundamentalism.
Hulsman told van der Hoeven that they have received a Dutch delegation of the Protestant Church in the Netherlands together with Muslim organizations. The delegation visited religious leaders, universities, and the Egyptian Ministry of foreign affairs. Hulsman said that the visit of the delegation was successful because there were Muslim organizations included in the itinerary. Hulsman claimed that the role of the press is sometimes questionable.
Both van der Hoeven and Hulsman agree that the problems of fundamentalism and radicalism are related to the socioeconomic structure. Van der Hoeven said that one of the biggest problems in the Egyptian society is that 50 % of the population is young and without future perspectives. The reality is that a group of bureaucrats don’t want to change anything because they feel threatened. There have been reforms, but the reforms need to be taken to a different level. However, this will also require the support of the people who are causing the problems. The Egyptians are aware that steps need to be taken quickly. For instance, if the Egyptians don’t act quickly with the projects in Port Said, Turkey and Cyprus will take them over.
The topic was then changed to the subject of intercultural dialogue. According to van der Hoeven, it is important that all kinds of individuals cooperate together. This means that individuals need to be aware that they need each other, and that we live in a world without islands; you cannot put a fence around Europe, and you can’t put a fence around the Muslim world.
Van der Hoeven was asked if she had discussed economic development. Van der Hoeven affirmed that she had two meetings about the economy. Van der Hoeven met with the Egyptian minister of electricity and energy Ḥassan Yūnis and the Egyptian finance minister Yūsuf Buṭrus Ghālī. It is hard sometimes for Dutch companies like Vopak to start in Egypt. Vopak wants to build storage containers in Egypt. The problem is that due to Egyptian trade laws, Vopak will be not the official owner of the spare parts they store in storage facilities in Egypt. Nevertheless , the business plans exist but nothing more than that; there have been no steps to apply the plans. Van der Hoeven said that she always does her best for Dutch companies.
Van der Hoeven was asked if there is a lot of competition in the harbour projects in Egypt. Van der Hoeven claims that the competition is limited. In Egypt, there is a big need for exchange of knowledge and information, and therefore there are many opportunities for Dutch companies. Van der Hoeven said that there will be another meeting held in the fall of 2008.
There is a lot of cooperation at present between Egypt and the Netherlands in terms of development aid, but any other cooperation is difficult. The investors for projects will have to come from the private sector. Hulsman mentioned that the usual investors are foreign companies, and that the Egyptians barely contribute.
Van der Hoeven mentioned a project at the Suez canal. A second Suez canal needs to be built because the new harbour is closing off the old one. The remaining problem is to unite everyone in Egypt and to make this happen.Van der Hoeven said that there is a need for a change in dynamics. Van der Hoeven also mentioned that the Dutch NMi, institute which provides metrological services, such as testing, certifying, calibrating and training staff, will be active in Egypt. The aim will be that the NMi institute will teach Egyptians certifying. This will give Egypt a great benefit in the region.
The last topic disused was Geert Wilders. Geert Wilders is an anti-Islamic populist who published an anti-Islamic video by the fame of ‘Fitna’. Van der Hoeven said that we shall be prepared for a second wave of anti-Islamism in the Netherlands because that also happened with the Danish cartoonist. The Dutch government made it clear that the anti-Islamic statements of Geert Wilders are his own personal opinions, and that the Dutch government is against all kind of discriminatory speech .
