Powell to Arab forum: 'Build a new Middle East'
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Powell told the forum the "young people" need hope and jobs to stop the violence.
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Speaking at the U.S.-Arab Economic Conference in Detroit, Michigan, Secretary of State Colin Powell laid out his vision to 'build a new Middle East' (September 29)
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SPECIAL REPORT
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SPECIAL REPORT
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DETROIT, Michigan (CNN) -- In a wide-ranging keynote address on Middle East policy at the U.S.-Arab Economic Forum, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell Monday urged the Arab community to "build a new Middle East" based on religious tolerance, the rights of the individual and the rule of law.
There is "no clash of civilizations" between the U.S and Arab world," Powell said, but "only a struggle to defend values ... which we share with the West and the vast majority of Arabs."
Close to 1,000 U.S. and Arab policy, business, social and technology officials are in Detroit for this week's U.S.-Arab Economic Forum, to address ways of fostering better ties between the two societies in an effort to foster development of the Middle East.
On Iraq, Powell called on forum participants to support the rebuilding of the nation, challenging them to "be as generous as you can" at the upcoming donors conference for Iraq in Madrid next month.
"Iraqis need trade, they need investment, they need you," he added.
Powell noted the ongoing security problems in Iraq, blaming "Baathist regime remnants, common criminals and terrorists," but said coalition forces would "deal with enemies of peace."
"Saddam Hussein is gone. That evil regime is gone and he will not return," he said.
Powell also addressed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying the peace process was "stalled because of continued terror."
If a new Palestinian Prime Minister does not make concrete efforts to crack down on terrorist groups like Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Powell warned, "it is unclear how we will be able to move forward."
For its part, Powell called on Israel to end settlement activity and take steps to alleviate hardships for Palestinians, such as eliminating checkpoints and halting construction of the fence between Israel and the Palestinian territories.
As a possible economic incentive, Powell also spoke of the Bush administration's desire for a free trade agreement with the Middle East within the next decade, saying the United States was committed to better trading relationships with countries that undertake economic reform.
Earlier in the forum, Amr Moussa, secretary-general of the Arab League, noted that the combined gross domestic product of the 22 countries in the Middle East is less than that of Spain, but has enormous potential to grow.
