The Arab region and the world witnessed many milestones in 2019, including the isolation of the Sudanese President, Omar Al-Bashir, the death of the Tunisian President, Baji Kaid Essebsi, the isolation of the Algerian President, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and the revolt of two popular revolutions in Iraq and Lebanon, in addition to the recognition of the administration of the American President, Donald Trump, the legitimacy of the settlements, and its recognition of Israel's sovereignty of the Syrian Golan Heights. Other notable events include the dispute over the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, the measures to isolate Trump, the yellow jacket demonstrations in France, and others in Hong Kong for several months now, the Turkish attack on northern Syria, and the holding of new elections in Britain that brought Boris Johnson, a supporter of Brexit From the European Union, for prime minister, and other events.

Man may have difficulty finding some positive events between endless reports of war, terrorist attacks, aircraft crashes, climate problems, floods and hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, and other horrific events.

Since these events greatly affect the reality and the future of the Arab region, we will try in this file, which runs through several episodes, to shed light on the most important of them, in order to document and benefit from the lessons.

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According to its monitoring the achievements of the previous year

The Economist praises Sudan, and selects Uzbekistan in 2019

The Economist magazine announced this week that Uzbekistan is the "state of the year", stressing that "no other country has reached this limit" in 2019, in terms of economic and other reforms, which this Central Asian country has reached. Efforts have already doubled over the reform agenda formulated by the president, Shaukat Mirzoyev, who came to power in 2016 and brought about major changes, especially in economic and foreign policy.

The Economist opened her article by saying that there are two countries that have become noticeably better in 2019, Uzbekistan and Sudan, as mass protests in Sudan managed to topple former President Omar al-Bashir, one of the most dangerous tyrants of the world, whose regime killed so many of its people, that A third of the country seceded to form South Sudan in 2011. Al-Bashir was convicted of corruption in a Sudanese court on December 14, but is not likely to extradite him to the International Criminal Court, because of the genocide he committed in Darfur. The new government pledges to share power by holding elections within three years, and negotiates peace in Darfur, yet the risk of "bullying" the old regime still exists and is likely to spoil democratic reforms.

As for Uzbekistan, it is the country that actually won this year, and the American presidential candidate, Herman Caen, once mocked this country. Three years ago, this country was reeling under an old-style regime in the style of the Soviet Union, and it was a closed and highly managed society. Inefficiency, and his regime forced several groups of men, women, and children to work in the cotton fields at harvest time.

When the President, Islam Karimov, died in 2016, after ruling the country for 27 years, his Prime Minister, Shaukat Mirzoyev, succeeded him. Initially there was little change, but after his expulsion of the head of the security services, in 2018, Mirzoyev began to walk the path of reforms, whose steps accelerated over the past year, and his government largely abolished forced labor, closed the most famous prison, and allowed foreign journalists to enter, The bureaucrats were prevented from inviting small businesses, from which they were previously receiving bribes. The government opened more border crossings, which helped reunite separated families outside the country's borders, and foreign technocrats were invited to help repair the faltering economy.

Uzbekistan held parliamentary elections before the end of the year, and although it is still far from Western democracy, all parties support Mirzoyev, but some critics are still behind bars. Despite this, some candidates have criticized the government, which was previously unimaginable. Ordinary Uzbeks felt free, voiced their opinions mocking the campaign, and complained of their political class without fear that something would harm them. Uzbekistan still has a long way to go, but in 2019 no other country was able to accomplish what Uzbekistan has accomplished.

The Uzbek authorities have spared no effort to highlight these changes, and although opposition parties are still banned, the government says the elections that took place represent a step towards "new Uzbekistan", and the country has also witnessed major reforms, of course, including human rights.

Uzbekistan remained “one of the oldest totalitarian regimes after the fall of the Soviet Union” until 2016, and since that date dozens of political prisoners have been released, and the government has taken steps to end forced labor in the cotton fields, reforms have been made in the media, and freedom of the Internet has been launched.

However, the country "still has a long way to go" and is still "far from being a democracy." The government, which remains largely authoritarian, must keep its promises for reforms that include creating an independent judicial body, allowing non-governmental human rights groups to operate, ending forced labor, allowing opposition parties to run for elections, and stopping censorship, and at present these seem just dreams Out of reach of ordinary Uzbeks.

The country's international partners should not drift behind the good signs that "New Uzbekistan" has achieved, and with regard to human rights, it is clear that the government has undertaken reforms because of external pressure to end the terrible violations, and the partners need to continue their pressure on a regular basis, so that human rights improvements remain part of An integral part of opening up the country.

Honorable tribute

New Zealand deserves an honorable tribute for its response to a massacre at a mosque by a white extremist, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern wore the headscarf to express her solidarity with Muslims, and announced that the attack on Muslims was an attack on all New Zealanders, and her government banned semi-automatic weapons.

Also there is another impressive country, North Macedonia, who changed its name to promote peace with its neighbor, and Greece objected to this because its old name is Macedonia, which implied that it might claim the Greek region of the same name, and Greece also objected to the Macedonians joining NATO North Atlantic, or even start negotiations to join the European Union. So Scooby lawmakers swallowed what they were proud of, voted to rename their country, change took effect in February, relations with Greece are now warmer, and northern Macedonia is now on the right path to join NATO. Unfortunately, however, French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country France was the country of the year in 2017, objected to the accession of this country to the European Union, fearing that the welcome of another country in the Balkans in the club, to the wrath of French voters.

The Uzbek authorities have spared no effort to highlight these changes, and although opposition parties are still banned, the government says the planned elections represent a step towards "new Uzbekistan", and the country has of course also witnessed major reforms, including human rights.

New Zealand deserves an honorable credit for its response to a massacre in the mosque by a white extremist.

"Northern Macedonia", whose name has changed to promote peace with its neighbor Greece, is an impressive country in 2019.