Interdependence is the key to the future, Bill Clinton tells Arab Strategy Forum

In his keynote address on the opening day of the Forum being held at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, former President Clinton thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister for hosting the forum and for his leadership as well as for the selection of the ASF topic - The Arab World in 2020.

"2020 is not that far away," said Clinton while pointing out that he has been interested in the Arab world since he was a student. "When I was president, I did all I could to be a good partner and good neighbour and arranging a lasting peace in the Middle East."

Clinton said he saw two opposite scenarios of what the Middle East could be like in 2020.

He outlined the negative scenario in which the Arab world would be dominated by terror; there will be continuing conflict with Israel; there would be no Palestinian state; some states would try and develop weapons of mass destruction ands terrorist groups would try and do the same; there would be exploding population; excessive reliance on oil and resistance to necessary economic, political and social change including education and empowerment of women.

Clinton said the positive scenario he saw was an Arab world at peace with Israel; a Palestinian state serving its peoples; Arab nations joining in a vast Arab free trade zone, cultural renaissance, regional cooperation for security against terrorism; an Iraq independent and responsible with a representative government; Iran giving up its nuclear ambitions; good education and healthcare; eradication of poverty; an Arab world close to both the East and the West and with new ties to new economic powers like China and India.

Interdependence
After providing the opposing concepts, Clinton asked: "What will happen?"

"All we know for sure that we live in an interdependent region and in an interdependent world. For example, both Israel and Syria are interdependent - it depends on whether there are attacks or whether their children play together," Clinton pointed out.

He said growth and development do not rely on vision alone. There are other factors that are required. Vision needs a concrete strategy to activate the vision. Systems are needed to implement that vision. Leadership is a key component and support is needed from the friends of the Arab world, including the USA.

"This vision is appearing or we would not be here today," said Clinton adding that: "Dubai, in which we meet, is the product of a revolutionary vision. A leader who could simply imagine that the future could be radically different than the past. The same vision is needed to achieve peace, security and prosperity in the Middle East," President Clinton concluded.