People in western countries should set aside their negative stereotypes of the Middle East and embrace its desire for modernisation, former UK prime minister Tony Blair has said.
Polling by Mr Blair's think tank found evidence of what he called "outdated misconceptions" of the region, with people in Britain, the US, France and Germany likely to see it as unstable, discriminatory and potentially hostile.
Conversely, the survey found most people in countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iraq said they regarded western countries positively and believed in equal rights and peaceful co-existence between faiths.
They also expressed optimism about the future of science and technology in the region, contrary to the prevailing western view that the region's economy is rigid and stagnant.
Mr Blair, who ordered British troops into Iraq as part of the US-led invasion in 2003, said there were "surprisingly positive" attitudes in the region towards the UK, US and Europe.
"People across the Middle East and North Africa, especially the youth, want societies which are religiously tolerant, economically enterprising and at peace with their neighbours," he said.
"Unfortunately, western attitudes are lagging [behind]. We still think of the region as backward, intractable and irredeemably hostile to us. And whilst of course there is evidence for those attitudes in parts of the Middle East, the polling shows they do not represent the majority.
"The risk for the West is our outdated misconception of what people in the region really think leads us to disengage at the very moment where there is an opportunity for us to partner the region and its modernising elements for the benefit, not only of the region itself, but for our own security."
'Third way'
A 73-page report by the Tony Blair Institute said there was broad support in the region for Saudi Arabia's reform efforts, intended to drive diversification from oil.
The report cited the Abraham Accords between the UAE, Bahrain and Israel, and the Cop climate summits being hosted by Egypt in 2022 and the UAE in 2023 as examples of international engagement bearing fruit.
It invited US President Joe Biden, visiting the region this week, to support a "third way" between the status quo and radical governments in the region — invoking one of Mr Blair's catchphrases when he was Labour Party leader.
The report said majorities of between 67 per cent and 75 per cent of those polled in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt and Tunisia believed that women should have the same rights as men at all levels of business and government.
However, only 9 per cent to 15 per cent of people in Britain, the US, France and Germany believed women's rights were making progress in the Middle East.
Joe Biden's Middle East visit - in pictures
Between 41 per cent and 49 per cent of western respondents thought countries in the region were "hostile or generally unfriendly" towards the West, while most thought it likely that there would always be conflict in the Middle East.
By contrast, 72 per cent of those polled in the Middle East expressed a favourable view of the US, with 67 per cent regarding Britain positively and 62 per cent saying the same about France.
The report said that despite continuing conflicts in Syria, Yemen and Palestine, there had been "significant progress towards ending war in the region, as Middle Eastern leaders have taken steps to build a co-operative and peaceful future".
"However, the prevailing view among western publics is that the Middle East is more often a source of problems than solutions," it said. "In spite of this, people in the Middle East and much of its leadership desire regional peace and partnerships with western nations."
The polling in the Middle East was carried out by Zogby Research Services, with 4,856 people interviewed face to face. There were 6,268 respondents to YouGov surveys in Europe and America.
Surianah's top five jazz artists
Billie Holliday: for the burn and also the way she told stories.
Thelonius Monk: for his earnestness.
Duke Ellington: for his edge and spirituality.
Louis Armstrong: his legacy is undeniable. He is considered as one of the most revolutionary and influential musicians.
Terence Blanchard: very political - a lot of jazz musicians are making protest music right now.
Grand Slam Los Angeles results
Men:
56kg – Jorge Nakamura
62kg – Joao Gabriel de Sousa
69kg – Gianni Grippo
77kg – Caio Soares
85kg – Manuel Ribamar
94kg – Gustavo Batista
110kg – Erberth Santos
Women:
49kg – Mayssa Bastos
55kg – Nathalie Ribeiro
62kg – Gabrielle McComb
70kg – Thamara Silva
90kg – Gabrieli Pessanha
The biog
Born: High Wycombe, England
Favourite vehicle: One with solid axels
Favourite camping spot: Anywhere I can get to.
Favourite road trip: My first trip to Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan. The desert they have over there is different and the language made it a bit more challenging.
Favourite spot in the UAE: Al Dhafra. It’s unique, natural, inaccessible, unspoilt.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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HIV on the rise in the region
A 2019 United Nations special analysis on Aids reveals 37 per cent of new HIV infections in the Mena region are from people injecting drugs.
New HIV infections have also risen by 29 per cent in western Europe and Asia, and by 7 per cent in Latin America, but declined elsewhere.
Egypt has shown the highest increase in recorded cases of HIV since 2010, up by 196 per cent.
Access to HIV testing, treatment and care in the region is well below the global average.
Few statistics have been published on the number of cases in the UAE, although a UNAIDS report said 1.5 per cent of the prison population has the virus.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
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25 visual effects (VFX) studios
2,150 VFX shots in a film with 2,500 shots
1,000 VFX artists
3,000 technicians
10 Concept artists, 25 3D designers
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Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Seattle from Dh6,755 return in economy and Dh24,775 in business class.
The cruise
UnCruise Adventures offers a variety of small-ship cruises in Alaska and around the world. A 14-day Alaska’s Inside Passage and San Juans Cruise from Seattle to Juneau or reverse costs from $4,695 (Dh17,246), including accommodation, food and most activities. Trips in 2019 start in April and run until September.
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