Middle East must reform despite risks: Clinton

Munich, Feb 5: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a security conference in Munich on Saturday, Feb 5, said that the Middle East must reform despite risks and warned of a perfect storm in the region. She urged regional leaders to quickly enact real democratic reforms or risk even greater instability.

Clinton said, “Lack of political reform, coupled with a growing young population and new Internet technologies, threatened the old order in a region crucial to US security."

Clinton claimed that the powerful trends had motivated people to take protest on the streets of Tunis, Cairo and cities throughout the region.

Clinton did not discuss in detail about the political uprising in Egypt, rather stressed over Washington's new public attempt for quick political reform among its Middle East allies, which include not only Egypt and Jordan but global oil giant Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

"This is not simply a matter of idealism it is a strategic necessity. Without genuine progress toward open and accountable political systems, the gap between people and their governments will grow, and instability will only deepen. All of our interests will be at risk," Clinton said.

The US government repetitiously urged embattled President Hosni Mubarak to step down to restore the normal life in Egypt. It also pressed Mubarak to prepare for orderly transition from power amid of mass protest against his 30 years rule.

Sources said that British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and a number of other leaders, top executives were present in Munchi conference.

OneIndia News