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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