Clinton: Arab revolutions must not turn into “mirage”

WASHINGTON — Amid ongoing turmoil the in the Middle East, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday the United States remains committed to supporting Arab citizens in democratically crafting their own governments.

“Today, the long Arab winter has begun to thaw.  For the first time in decades, there is a real opportunity for change,” she said.  “America is committed to working as partners to help unlock the region’s potential and realize its hopes for change.”

Clinton spoke to the U.S.-Islamic World Forum, an eight-year-old event that brings the U.S. and Muslim communities around the globe together.  This was the first time the meeting was held in the U.S.  The meetings previously were held in Qatar.

The revolutions in the Middle East and northern Africa have presented unique opportunities to advance democracy and prosperity, Clinton said.  She applauded the populist movements in Tunisia and Egypt, and called for peaceful, democratic reforms in Bahrain, Yemen, and Syria, all of which are currently dealing with protests the governments have sometimes responded to with violence.

But, she warned, the transition to a democratic society is not always quick.

“Real change takes time, it takes hard work and patience,” she said.

The U.S. government has already given $150 million to Egypt to ease its transition to a democratic form of government, Clinton said.

“The United States will be there as a partner, working for progress,” she said.  “We are committed to the future of this region and we believe in the potential of its people.”

The U.S. and Islamic nations share many common goals, Clinton said, such as confronting extremism, achieving a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine and protecting universal human rights.  Among those rights is making sure women are full and equal partners in government.

“All over the world we see living proof that Islam and women’s rights are compatible,” she said.  “You cannot have a claim to a democracy if half the population is silenced.”

Clinton said she expects the Middle East will soon be one of the most prosperous regions in the world.

“The people of the Middle East and north Africa have the talent and drive to build vibrant economies and sustainable democracies,” she said.

Ali Mufuruki, chairman of Infotech Investment Group in Tanzania, said that in light of the ongoing revolutions, he was encouraged by what he heard.

“Everyone’s been looking to the U.S. with anticipation as to how they are going to react to this, and this to me looks like a very good reaction to the issues,” he said.

Even though the speech was almost entirely about the Middle East, and the majority of Muslims live outside that region, Mufuruki said the themes discussed are universal, and of interest to Muslims everywhere.

The issues are common, like issues confronting humanity,” he said.  “Issues of equity, of proper governance, issues of opportunity for especially the young generation.  These are the same in the Middle East as they are in other countries of the Muslim world.”

Robert Fersh, president of a U.S.-based think-tank studying Islamic-American relation called Convergences, said he thought the speech both acknowledged the global realities and spoke to universal aspirations.

“I thought it laid out a very good overview of how we need to both promote better relations between the countries, promote growth and development there, but also not undertake more than what’s appropriate for us as Americans,” he said.

The U.S. needs to foster economic ties to promote growth and jobs for the large young populations in the Middle East, Fersh said.  Most importantly, however, Fersh said the door must be opened so that ordinary citizens of the U.S. and Muslim nations can interact more often and more closely.

“We get to know each other as human beings,” he said.