Arab Society Differences Continue
01 Nov 1983Despite doubts cast over the viability of the newly founded Arab Society of Accountants (see IAB 4), Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, the Society’s first president is optimistic: “It is up to us to make it work and we will demonstrate that we are going to make it work.”
The Society has been criticized for undermining ongoing attempts by the Middle East Society and the Arab Institute in Baghdad to direct accounting developments in the Arab world. But Abu-Ghazaleh dismisses both these bodies as being unable to attain the international respect necessary for the profession. The Middle East Society is too narrowly based, he claims, while the Arab Institute can never be sufficiently independent so long as it remains an arm of the Arab League.
But Suhail Saba, managing partner at Saba & Co. who was instrumental in setting up the Middle East Society, says that his firm will boycott the new Society. A pan-Arab effort is already under way, he considers, under the auspices of the Arab Institute in Baghdad. He also dismisses the idea that London should be the centre of any Arab professional body.
The Society convenes at the beginning of December to approve its constitution and to choose the regional directors.
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