Abu Dhabi: The Palestinian-Israeli conflict "is resolvable, and the US is literally working every day to build this trust," said US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday.
Clinton, who is on a tour of the UAE, Oman and Qatar, was talking on a pan-Arab talk show to be aired on MBC 1.
She is meeting with government officials to discuss a range of regional and bilateral issues.
In a forum at Zayed University, Clinton emphasised the commitment of the US to resolving regional conflicts, adding that "effort alone is not sufficient to resolving conflicts, and that each should have enough trust in the other party to take risks for peace".
Addressing the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, she cited a call former President Bill Clinton had received from President Yasser Arafat after he left the presidency saying: "I am ready to accept the deal [with Israel]. Clinton said: "But I am not the president anymore."
In her opinion, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict "is resolvable, and we are literally working every day to build this trust. The US is committed to a state for the Palestinian people while also supporting Israel. The whole world needs to support President Abbas in building the Palestinian state. What is amazing is that both parties share the same demands, they both want their children to grow up in peace," Clinton added.
Prevent war
Clinton said the US is currently working with many countries in the region to stabilise Lebanon and prevent a possible war.
"War will not resolve the longstanding concerns of the Lebanese people; every responsible leader has a role to play," Clinton said.
Addressing Iran's pursuit of nuclear programmes "Iran on the other hand has the right to have access to peaceful nuclear energy and the responsibility not to pursue this energy to a nuclear weapon. The sanctions have served in slowing down that process," Clinton said.
"If Iran develops nuclear weapons, this will lead to an arms race that will be extremely dangerous. We would like to see a nuclear free Middle East and world," she added.
In regard to Iraq, "there is now an inclusive government where all Iraqi sectors are represented and each has a say," she said.
Addressing the conflict in Sudan, Clinton said: "People in South Sudan should vote for their own future and the world should support them building their infrastructure."
As for violence after September 11, "it's of major importance that citizens stand up and voice their resentment to violence," she said. At times, the media plays up anti-Muslim attitudes. "That is not the belief of Americans, but there will always be a rude and loud minority. What is important is for you to know that they do not reflect the vast majority neither of Americans nor of Muslims."
Clinton pointed out that she believes in the strength of women and their contributions to society. "Every woman is a multi-task woman who assumes different roles in and outside her home, facing constant challenges to balance responsibilities" she said.
Women's progress
She sees that women in the UAE specifically and in the region have excelled through education. "I am very impressed by women's strength and most notably by the young women who stand up and speak up," Clinton said.
She said she is determined to break the stereotypes about women through many similar visits with her media team who will assist in changing these misleading views. She advised women to pursue the best education and contribute in their areas of expertise.
