Outcomes of the U.S.-Islamic World Forum

February 14, 2010 in Doha, Qatar has been U.S.-Islamic World Forum.

I would like to inform succinctly about the outcomes: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton identified existing obstacles for better engagement of the U.S. and Muslim world: Shared purpose and values have often been obscured by suspicion and misunderstanding. And therefore a new beginning based on a commitment to open dialogue and equal partnership, a new beginning confronts the tensions between the USA and Muslim world, a new beginning acknowledges the roles and responsibilities in solving the common problems.

The new approach of the USA rests on three core pillars: (1)relations based on mutual respect, mutual interest, and mutual responsibility; (2) a shared commitment to universal values; (3)broad engagement with governments and citizens alike.
Hillary Clinton named it as "convergence of policies and principles".

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton strongly underlined that "education and innovation are the currency of this century." And said that the State Department creating a Global Technology and Innovation Fund, which will be launch this spring, that will provide hundreds of millions of dollars in capital to small and medium-sized businesses throughout the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

It was very interesting thoughts in the speech of Secretary of State about democracy. She proved the commitment of the USA for democracy worldwide and that democracy can't be exported:"We supported and will continue to support those who build the foundations of democracy: transparent and trustworthy institutions, the rule of law, a vibrant civil society that shines a light on government abuses and those overlooked corners of society where the powerless and disenfranchised can be found. But none of this can—or should—be imposed from the outside. It must emerge from citizens themselves. And as nations strive to build and strengthen governments that reflect the will of their people, grounded in their own traditions, they can count on the United States to be their partner".
Strobe Talbott who had been moderated the discussion said that terrific speech, especially the last part about democracy removed the sense of many participants that the issue of democratic reform has been deemphasized by State Department.

Special focus has been made on Human Rights: a)Human rights should be respected, regardless of the form of governance;b)motion towards democracy not at all in contradiction with Human Rights, contrary they reinforce each other.