[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.