DUBAI, 14 December 2004 — The opening day of the Arab Strategy Forum (ASF), which started yesterday, witnessed a large number of attendees from around the world, particularly from the GCC region and the rest of the Arab world. The participants included high-level government officials and leading personalities.
“Since its inception in 2001, the ASF has received a great response from within and outside the region, however the participation this year is substantially greater,” said Nabil Al-Yousuf, vice-chairman of the Arab Strategy Forum Organizing Committee. “He pointed out that the last two weeks saw an overwhelming number of registrations for participation.”
Former US President Bill Clinton told delegates at the forum that they need to realize that all are living in an interdependent world and that it is upon them to define what the Arab world would be like in 2020.
In his keynote address on the opening day of the forum being held at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai, Clinton thanked Sheikh Mohammed ibn Rashid Al-Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE defense minister for hosting the forum and for his leadership as well as for the selection of the ASF theme — 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 neighbor and arranging a lasting peace in the Middle East.” 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 US.
“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,” Clinton concluded.