Jordan Times
Sunday, May 9, 2004
By Alia Shukri Hamzeh
AMMAN — Seen as a breakthrough for Jordanian diplomacy, His Majesty King Abdullah's visit to Washington has confirmed the solidity of Jordanian-US ties as the King succeeded in defusing regional tension emanating from the prevalent Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Observers, analysts and politicians said the three-day official visit to the US — where the King received assurances from US President George W. Bush of his commitment to the internationally-backed Middle East roadmap and the creation of an independent Palestinian state — was historic because it served to reassure the Middle East of the US' pivotal role as peace broker.
It also shed light on strong bilateral ties between both states, and on the Monarch's ability to influence a change in US external policy towards the region by receiving support for major issues of concern.
“The King's visit is historic in the sense that this is a small country with limited resources and it was able to manoeuvre with the only major power in the world today. The visit did not only achieve gains on the bilateral level but on the regional level as well,” said Mustafa Hamarneh, director of the Centre for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan.
The visit, that was hailed across the political spectrum and viewed as the catalyst that put the frozen peace process back on track, was received with a huge sigh of relief in Jordan and the Arab world. The assurances granted seemed to quell Arab states' fear that final status issues would not be prejudiced by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's controversial disengagement plan. They were also seen as significant because they managed to build on Jordanian-US relations in isolation of the ever-present Israeli side.
The King returned home on Saturday. He had met with Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell and other US officials for discussions on bilateral ties and regional issues.
The local press, senators, deputies and politicians expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the visit and the written assurances, which also worked to comfort regional anger over last month's statements by Bush in which he embraced Israel's pull out plan and rejected a long-standing Palestinian and Arab demand that refugees be allowed to return to land they lost to Israel.
Bush's April endorsement carried dangerous repercussions for final status issues and was seen as a deviation from accustomed US policies in the Middle East. They were also viewed as undermining the Palestinian position in the negotiations and a clear attempt to ignore internationally recognised resolutions and peace plans.
“I remain committed as ever to my June 24, 2002 vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security, and to the establishment of a Palestinian state that is viable, contiguous, sovereign and independent,” Bush wrote in a May 6 letter to the King.
He also reiterated commitment to the Quartet-sponsored roadmap saying it represents the best pathway towards realising the vision of an independent Palestinian state. “And I am committed to making it a reality,” he wrote. “I assure you that my government views Jordan's security, prosperity, and territorial integrity as vital, and we will oppose any developments in the region that might endanger your interests,” Bush wrote in the letter.
The King had postponed a meeting with Bush in Washington last month, seeking clarifications of the US administration's position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Assurances guaranteeing that final status issues such as refugees, borders and settlements would not be prejudiced by the US were requested by Jordan. The Kingdom, which hosts more than 1.7 million Palestinian refugees, regards any solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that is not based on the foundations of the Madrid conference, or international resolutions and peace agreements, as detrimental to its interests and the region. “I am very encouraged by what I've always seen as a dedicated position from the president of the US. He is the first president to articulate a viable, independent Palestinian state and created a mechanism, a roadmap to be able to achieve that,” King Abdullah said at a joint press conference Thursday with Bush.
According to former prime minister and veteran politician Taher Masri assurances taken from the US and which carry strategic importance to Jordan and the Middle East will positively influence the outcome of the upcoming Arab summit.
Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher commented similarly. In comments to the press in Cairo on Saturday, ahead of preparatory meetings for the Arab summit in Tunis, Muasher said Arab countries should seize the opportunity at hand and work on activating the roadmap.
He said the King has managed to put the peace process on the right track. “This should be built on,” he urged.
He said Jordan insisted on written assurances to counter an earlier letter given to Sharon.
But Masri warned against trusting too much in US promises. “We remain unsure how they would be implemented. Will the US position remain the same as it was in front of His Majesty,” he said, making reference to similar assurances granted to Sharon last month.
Islamic Action Front Party leader Hamzeh Mansour said past experiences with the US have made it very difficult for the people in the region to believe in declared US intentions.
“Everything should be based on results and so far we find it difficult to trust in the US intentions, especially when they fulfil Israeli demands at the expense of the Arabs,” Mansour said.
Muasher, however, indicated that letters of assurance by the US to Jordan or Israel will not end the Israeli occupation unless they are accompanied by serious Arab action.