Jordan Times
Wednesday, March 3, 2004
Terror must not win — King
Agencies
His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday strongly condemned the attacks on the Iraqi cities of Baghdad and Karbala, killing at least 170.
“We are shocked, dismayed at the heinous crime that was committed today in Iraq,” King Abdullah told a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Tony Blair after talks yesterday at 10 Downing Street in London.
“We've seen that signature before, where they have tried to create the struggle between east and west, to try and take on not only the Sunnis inside the Islamic world, but — as we've seen today — targeting innocent Shiites to try and create a struggle inside Islam.”
The King stressed that “we will do our utmost... to ensure that the terrorists do not win the day, that there will be hope not only for the future of Iraq, but for all of us in the Middle East.”
In Amman, Minister of State and Government Spokesperson Asma Khader expressed Jordan's fears that “such action will fuel religious discord” between Sunni and Shiite Muslims in Iraq.
“The government firmly condemns these actions which target innocent civilians and denounces the use of such methods, no matter what are the reasons behind them,” Khader said.
The King's talks with Blair focused on Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and relations between Britain and Jordan.
Blair praised the King's efforts to bring about peace and stability in the region.
In Berlin, meanwhile, King Abdullah told reporters after meeting German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder that “we in Jordan are serious about homegrown reforms.”
“The Kingdom is also working for a unified Arab stand on the proposed pan-Arab reforms that include a solution to Palestinian cause,” he added, saying that Arab countries hope to present a blueprint for such reforms to the G-8 summit in June.
The blueprint would include a proposal, first aired two years ago, offering the Jewish state security and recognition in return for a viable Palestinian state.
The proposal was suggested by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah and was adopted by Arab leaders at their summit in Beirut.
The King said it is hoped the leaders would in Tunis resuggest the “Arab Initiative” as a solution to the Middle East crisis.
The regional reforms are to be discussed at the next Arab League summit in Tunis on March 29-30.
Arab League Secretary General Amr Musa said Saturday that the summit could draw up a united position in response to Western proposals aimed at promoting democracy in the Middle East.
Foreign Minister Meets US Envoy Grossman
In a related development, Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher told a US envoy visiting Egypt that political and economic changes must come from within the region.
“Any reforms that are achieved must come from inside the region and be based on our Arab and Islamic civilisation and our Islamic religion,” Muasher told visiting US undersecretary of state for political affairs, Marc Grossman, currently in Cairo to explain Washington's ideas. Grossman arrived earlier Tuesday in Cairo coming from Morocco as part of a tour that will also take him to Jordan and Bahrain to advance the so-called US “Greater Middle East Initiative.” He will also visit Turkey.
“Achieving stability, peace and security in the region is necessary to create the right climate to achieving development and progress in the region in the economic, social and political fields,” Muasher added.
Muasher also insisted that efforts should concentrate on ending Israeli occupation of Arab territory and finding a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that will lead to the creation of a Palestinian state, the agency said.
King Abdullah later met German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer for “positive” talks. He explained that the two sides saw eye-to-eye on “most of the regional issues,” including Iraq. The King added that the two countries want an independent and democratic Iraq run by a national government as soon as possible, urging to a bigger role of the UN in the war-stricken country.
Asked if he and Schroeder discussed Israeli prime minister's unilateral plan to withdraw from Gaza, the King said that all aspects related to the Palestinian issue were discussed, stressing the need to extend every possible support to encourage the Palestinians and the Israelis to go back to the negotiating table.