Petra News Agency
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
King Calls Muslims to Build on What Unites Them
London, Jan.24(Petra)- His Majesty King Abdullah
II called all Muslims, Sunni and Shia, to build on what unites them and put
aside their differences and prevent external interference in their affairs.
In an interview with Al Sharq Al Awsat issued in London and published today ,
the King hoped that effective regional powers would address issues out of
concern for the security of the region's people and not out of narrow interests
and a desire to expand their influence.
The King also called upon the Religious scholars, opinion makers and
intellectual leaders to raise their voices to spread awareness and warn about
the threat this poses to the security of the region and its people.
King Abdullah expressed hope to see a balanced and positive relationship between
Iraq and Iran and between Arab states and Iran. “We also see that Iran should
stop seeking to destabilize Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq or any other country of
the region so that we can build constructive relations”, he added.
In His Majesty’s interview with Al Sharq al Awsat editor in chief Tariq Al
Homayed which took place in Amman, the King said that the game has changed after
the Lebanon war, and the players have changed, and everyone, foremost among them
Israel, should realize that unless we resolve the conflict in Palestine this
year, everyone will pay the price.” Israel should realize that a just solution
that ensures the restoration of legitimate Palestinian rights and that results
in the establishment of a fully sovereign Palestinian state on Palestinian land,
living in peace and security alongside Israel, is the only guarantee of peace
and security in the region”, the king added.
The King stressed that while we foster our historic relations with Iraqis,
whether in Iraq or those living among us (their number exceeds 700,000), we will
never allow Jordan to become a staging ground for initiating problems within
Iraq.
Answering a question on the axes and alliances, the King said:” I strongly
believe that the Arabs should have one voice and one position and that there
should be Arab understanding of events around us. We should have a common
position on the challenges that we face at this moment and we should ensure that
words should be translated into deeds.”
Regarding the relation with the Islamic movement in Jordan, the King said that
the role of the Islamist movement is welcomed and appreciated as long as it
respects the Constitution, regulations and laws and as long as its agenda is
nationalist, first and always adding that “We will not be lenient with any party
with external or non-Jordanian agendas.”