Jordan Times
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Terror should also be tackled through political means — King
By Alia Shukri Hamzeh
AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah said Monday fighting all forms and basis of
terrorism should be tackled through political means and not just security
measures.
King Abdullah told international experts, attending a conference on the role of
special forces in national defence, SOFEX 2004, that the unresolved Palestinian
cause has bred frustration and despair in the region — leading to extremism and
terrorism. The King stressed the need to achieve a just and comprehensive
solution to the regional conflict in order to make the world a safer and better
place.
His remarks come amidst escalation in violence in the Palestinian territories as
Israeli military forces increase their onslaught on towns and villages. Israel's
recent assassination of Hamas leaders Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and Abdelaziz Rantissi
— as part of its unilateral pullout plan from Gaza Strip — has also heightened
tension in the region and threatens to torpedo the Arab Middle East peace
initiative and internationally backed roadmap for peace.
King Abdullah said regional and international cooperation against terrorism is a
must, adding that more should be done in terms of exchange in techniques,
information and capabilities. He said special forces play a key role in
resolving conflicts and achieving regional and international security.
“Special forces and special operations are going to be on the cutting edge for
the military in the foreseeable future,” Agence France-Presse quoted the King as
saying during the conference. “Special forces and special operations represent
anywhere from one to four per cent of the manpower of our forces,” he said. “But
more and more you will see in the coming years that over 90 per cent of the
requirements our countries must put forward in military operations will go to
special forces or special operations units.”
Visiting French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie, who met King Abdullah
yesterday, said special forces were essential for the security of states and in
conflict resolution.
She said the conference, organised ahead of the three-day SOFEX 2004 military
fair, was important at such a time when the environment in the region and the
world was unstable. She called for reviving the internationally backed roadmap
to the Middle East peace, which envisions an independent Palestinian state by
2005. “To achieve any advancement or move for peace, Israelis and Palestinians
have to implement the roadmap,” the minister told a press conference at the end
of her Amman visit. “Assassinations and bombings are counterproductive for both
the Palestinians and Israelis,” she added.
Alliot-Marie, who was on a regional tour, which took her to Oman, Qatar and the
UAE, rejected Israel's recent threats against Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat,
saying the international community condemned it. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon declared in a recent television interview that he was no longer bound by
a promise to the US not to harm Arafat. Sharon's remarks were criticised by
Washington and the international community.
The minister voiced concern over the ongoing violence in Iraq and expressed hope
Iraqis regain sovereignty.
She said France would be ready to help reconstruct the war-torn country if the
UN returns to Iraq and power is transferred to Iraqis.
Alliot-Marie reiterated that authority should be transferred to Iraqis as soon
as possible or by the set date of June 30, saying that nothing would be achieved
without a transfer of responsibility to the UN and a transfer of sovereignty to
the Iraqis.
She said France had no intention to dispatch its troops to the occupied country,
but added that Paris could help train Iraqi soldiers in neighbouring states.
Alliot-Marie noted that both Jordan and France have strong bilateral ties and
military cooperation, especially in terms of exchange of information and ways to
counter terrorism. She said French instructors are also training Jordanian
special forces.