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Clinton Speaks at FGF Fundraiser Organized
by AmCham
The Honorable William J. Clinton, 42nd president
of the United States, spoke last month at a fundraising dinner organized
by AmCham Egypt for the Future Generation Foundation (FGF). The
event, held under the auspices of H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak on January
18 at the Amira Ballroom, Air Force House, Nasr City, was hosted
by FGF chairman Mr. Gamal Mubarak in order to raise funds for the
foundation's education and training programs for 2002.
Prior to Clinton’s speech, FGF vice chairman
Moataz Al Alfi acknowledged the event’s sponsors, and Gamal Mubarak
gave a welcoming address in which he spoke of the importance of
helping fellow citizens, especially the youth, for the good of one’s
country and society. Then, AmCham Egypt president Mohamed Mansour
introduced the keynote speaker, briefly reviewing the outstanding
successes of the U.S. economy during Clinton’s presidency.
Clinton spoke to the audience of 1,000 gathered
at the dinner about the need for greater tolerance and understanding
between different cultural and religious groups, particularly those
of the Western world and the Islamic world. "Our differences
are interesting, but our common humanity is ultimately more important,"
he said.
He expressed concern about the widespread anti-American
sentiments in the Arab world, but added that the sources of these
sentiments need to be examined. "The poor people of the world
cannot be led by those who think they can find redemption in our
destruction," he said. But on the other hand, "the rich
cannot be led by those who think they can ignore what is happening
in half the world."
The United States needs to increase its spending
on assistance to developing countries in order to combat terrorism,
he suggested. "I don't think America pays its fair share yet
in the world," he said, calling for higher expenditure on debt
relief for developing countries, on microenterprise credit and on
helping the poor to legalize informally-held assets. More than once
in his speech, Clinton pointed to the work of Peruvian economist
Hernando de Soto to promote the formalization of poor people’s property
in order to unlock the economic potential of their assets.
Turning directly to the problems of the Middle
East, Clinton said that a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict would make it more difficult for terrorists to garner support
based on unresolved issues and urged leaders to be flexible in negotiations.
"We have to make compromise a beautiful word, not a dirty word
in the Middle East,” he said. “It must be seen as a source of honor,
not shame; of strength, not weakness.”
Urging leaders to be flexible in negotiations,
he said that a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict "would
make it much more difficult for terrorists to stir up public support
based on the open sores that continue to run in the region.”
The next day, Clinton met with President Hosni
Mubarak in a private visit, where, according to AFP, the former
U.S. president reiterated his point that Washington ought to fight
terrorism by giving more help to developing countries.
Clinton had last visited in Egypt in October
2000, as U.S. president, for peace talks in Sharm Al Sheikh. This
time, appearing as a veteran statesman on a Middle East speaking
tour, he came to Egypt from Dubai and subsequently traveled to Saudi
Arabia.
Other highlights of the FGF fundraising dinner
included performances by composer Omar Khayrat and singer Latifah.
The event raised several million pounds for the FGF’s 2002 programs,
which are expected to help more than 5,000 young Egyptian professionals
acquire the skills they will need to compete in the global workplace.
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