Washington must push for reforms, says Clinton

Former US President Bill Clinton said Washington should play a more active role in pushing for economic and political reforms in the Middle East to balance what he saw as a near-total focus on combating terrorism.

He told the Arab Strategy Forum, which opened in Dubai yesterday, that Arab governments should have the "final say" in applying the means and forms of change in the region.

Clinton's speech at the high-calibre event, attended by about 1,500 Arab and foreign politicians, business and media leaders, appeared to respond to Arab sensitivities after many have lambasted Washington's proposal to promote democracy in the region as a way to fight terrorism.

"This forum should be a forum for change," he said.

He called for Arab leaders to lay down strategies and take Dubai as a model to be followed in terms of transparency, diversification of resources of income and rules and regulations that attract investors. The former President paid tribute to Dubai and its leadership, which had a vision for sustained growth and the will to implement that vision. He said growth and development could not rely on vision alone.

"Vision needs a concrete strategy to activate it, along with systems to implement that vision," he said.

He drew a comparison with Dubai, where oil only represents seven per cent of the gross national product (GNP).

"Diversifying the sources of income in the region is a special task at a time when the world is switching to alternative sources of energy," Clinton said, citing investment in technology and the development of human resources as some successful examples for growth.

He said such Arab initiatives would receive support from the United States, the European Union and the United Nations.

"America has to invest in development in the region, especially in the Palestinian territories," he said in response to a question and answer session after his speech.

On Palestine, the former President said US involvement in the peace negotiations had in the past helped bring down casualties on both sides.