Jordan Times
Sunday, April 26, 1998
Dialogue, based on facts, is road to Arab renaissance, Regent tells intellectuals
AMMAN (Petra) — His Royal Highness Crown Prince
Hassan, the Regent, emphasised the need for the Arab Nation to
adopt the principles of dialogue and to pursue the course of
scientific research in order to transform aspirations into facts.
In an address at the opening of a seminar organised by the Arab
Thought Forum (ATF), Prince Hassan said that every nation is
aware of the challenges facing it and takes measures to deal with
them, but this does not mean that it must live in isolation from
the world community and it should rather readjust its position to
ensure adaptation to the world in a manner that would serve its
own objectives.
Prince Hassan, who is the ATF’s president, said there was
need for openness to the world and for renouncing all forms of
bigotry and opposition merely for the sake of opposing
others’ views.
Perhaps the most dangerous challenge facing the Arab nation is
the task of adaptation to the informatics revolution without
infringing on Arab identity and culture, the Crown Prince pointed
out at the seminar entitled: Arab thought vis a vis international
developments... democracy and globalisation.
He said that advanced nations turn to deep study, analysis and
logic before reaching solutions, and they never base their
decisions on individual work nor upon sentiments which normally
lead to confusion.
In this respect, he called for thought to have a role in dealing
with challenges and crises and for defining objectives, stressing
the need for expanding the concept of democracy to cater to the
requirements of world developments.
He said that in order to deal with the absence of democratic
institutions and free political action within the limits of
pluralism and the failure of the Arab region to confront world
developments, one should give a wider margin of freedom for Arab
thought, in order for an individual to better express his views
in an objective and constructive manner.
The Regent stressed that believers in human thought realise that
the shaping of the future requires a great deal of sacrifice,
diligence and patience, adding that the future requires a code of
conduct for the struggle against irrationality, ignorance and
intellectual intimidation.
In his address attended by Prime Minister Abdul Salam Majali and
other ministers along with scholars, intellectuals and deputies
from Jordan and Arab states, the Regent said that the ATF had
sought since its inception to draft an effective mechanism that
can help enhance Arab culture and reproduce the image of the Arab
citizen in its glorious form.
“Acting from our principles and interests and in harmony
with ourselves we ought to give intellect priority over political
emotions, “ added Prince Hassan.
He called on the Arab nation to adopt a sound regional system of
behaviour defining the rights and duties of all people and
nations in the region, adding that this approach should be based
on the concept of building bridges of cooperation and on respect
of other nations’ rights.
Prince Hassan underlined the importance that only competent and
qualified people assume responsibility so as to prevent
anarchists from imposing their own agenda on others.
Referring to Islam, the Regent described it as a source of peace,
co-existence and security that has never preached killing or
chaos. He called for intensified efforts on the part of Muslims
to salvage the image of Islam from the distortion to which it has
been exposed.
He urged the Arab nation to deal with world developments in a
manner that would best serve its own interests and save it from
the risk of facing political or social abuse.
The Regent pointed out that among the challenges facing Arabs is
the trend of creating international economic blocs, reminding his
audience that the world is now witnessing a new reality in
international relations.
He said that the Arab region should seek to establish its own
role and status among these blocs rather than remaining marginal.
Referring to a recent meeting between western and south-eastern
nations in London, the Crown Prince said that the meeting
excluded the countries of western Asia which enjoy 70 per cent of
the world’s sources of energy. He said that the world is
rapidly moving towards the market economy, however,
unfortunately, this concept in our region is based on dealing in
arms and trading oil.
He said that the world should pay more attention to comprehensive
social, economic and cultural security.
Warning against divisions in the Arab world, the Regent said the
common denominator should be a call for reforms and for
reconciliation which must serve as a meeting point leading
eventually to consensus and common political appeal.
“If we want innovation we ought to aim at creativity in the
coming decade,” the Crown Prince stressed.
“The time has come for activating social and political
institutions and for objectively examining our problems and the
challenges facing the Arab world, and we should attain at least
the minimum level of solidarity and cooperation to serve national
causes,” he added.
Noting that Jordan more than other Arab states directs its
attention to inter-Arab trade, the Regent said that it was
necessary to promote economic and trade relations among Arab
countries.
Urging Arab states to shoulder their responsibilities, Prince
Hassan said that “this is needed so that we would not fall
prey to terms dictated on us by others.”