JEDDAH, 20 January 2004 — Former US President Bill Clinton was in a reflective and philosophical mood when he addressed the forum yesterday. Retirement and the future of the world seemed to concern him. “I’m a retired man and what I say may not be of consequence, but surely if we all change, we can change the face of the world in the next 30 years.”

He referred to his speech at the forum two years ago. “People thought I was crazy when I talked about change then. I said then that the Kingdom should develop alternative energy sources. The change should be from oil to energy such as developing solar energy. In fact, I nearly destroyed my presidency in effecting change. You’ll have to go beyond oil to develop the economy and change in the way Dubai, Qatar and even Lebanon have done.”

Clinton said he had read the Qur’an during his university days and benefited from the good points. “Islam is, in fact, the fastest growing religion in the United States, where there are six million Muslims. During my presidency I began hosting Eid Al-Fitr parties for Muslims from various countries in the United States. And the tradition is continuing.”

He cautioned his own countrymen that they too would have to change. “There’s every chance that the Chinese economy will surpass ours. Even Europe and its currency could overtake us within two decades.”

Speaking of his respect for Islam, he said: “When I woke this morning I heard the prayer call and offered prayers myself, bringing together my thoughts on what to say at the forum.”

He spoke of environmental problems facing the world and focused on Africa and other countries where people lacked clean drinking water. He mentioned a machine developed by one of his friends in America which is small in size but purifies water. “I drank some and am still here in front of you.”

He expressed concern about the plight of the poor and suggested that a knowledge-based economy would help alleviate poverty, ignorance and disease. “While preventing these things from happening, we should also prevent bad things from happening.”

He admitted that he had not completed his studies at Oxford, but he was happy to say that he was there when his daughter received her degree from Oxford. “My child redeemed my family’s honor.”

His parting word of advice was: “We all share a shrinking planet and will face an uncertain future if we do not change and work together.”