    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [January 19, 1999]
    [Pages 59-60]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Address on the Observance of Id al-Fitr
    January 19, 1999

        On behalf of Muslim Americans and, indeed, all Americans, I would
    like to send my best wishes to the Islamic world as the holy month of
    Ramadan draws to a close, and you celebrate the festival of Id al-Fitr.
    The month of fasting you have completed demands sacrifice and
    discipline. But it delivers a profound reward, the chance to teach
    people of every faith what is precious about Islam: its charity, its
    generosity, its essential humanity. All people in the world are moved by
    the observance of Ramadan, by the devotion and dignity that makes Islam
    one of the world's great religions.
        I fervently hope that the new Moon will stand for a rising tide of
    peace on Earth, in the Middle East, Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, Africa,
    every place where devoted people aspire and deserve to lead lives of
    fulfillment and self-respect. I especially hope we will see the lives of
    the Iraqi people improve. They have suffered for too long from
    oppression and war.

    [[Page 60]]

        One of the central challenges of our time is to build greater
    understanding among people who practice different forms of worship. As
    the leader of a nation of many, many faiths, I pledge that we will do
    all we can to strengthen relations with the Islamic community around the
    world in the year ahead. In the United States, we deeply respect the
    Muslim Americans who observe Ramadan. And we look forward to working
    with Muslims everywhere, everywhere in the world, to build a world where
    faith and friendship can truly flourish.
        As-salaamu alaykum.

    Note: The address was videotaped at approximately 5:10 p.m. on January
    12 in Room 459 of the Old Executive Office Building for later broadcast
    on the U.S. Information Agency WORLDNET. The transcript was released by
    the Office of the Press Secretary on January 19.