Jordan Times
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Failure of unilateral
solutions proven to Israel, US — King
Monarch in New York to take part in 61st session of UN General Assembly
AMMAN (JT) — King Abdullah said the failure of
unilateral solutions was underscored to Israel, the US and the entire world
after the war in Lebanon.
"What is called unilateral peace has proven its failure in reality," the King,
who left yesterday with Queen Rania for New York, told London-based Al Hayat
Arabic daily in an interview that was published on Saturday (see the
transcript's official translation).
"The biggest lesson is the failure of Israeli unilateralism and the failure of
dependence on force as a solution to the regional conflict and the failure of
the policies of powerful countries that have not seriously sought to help the
countries of the Middle East find a just and comprehensive solution to the
Arab-Israeli conflict," the Monarch told Chief Editor Ghassan Sherbel.
Stressing that "there is no future for Israel unless there is a just peace that
restores rights to the people", the King said Israel and the entire region
cannot enjoy security unless the Palestinians enjoy stability.
The King warned that the region will have to live many more difficult years
characterised by violence, unless comprehensive Palestinian-Israeli negotiations
begin in the next weeks and months, resulting in the establishment of an
independent and geographically contiguous Palestinian state within a specified
time.
"It is high time to return to the root causes of the conflict and the core
issue, which is the Palestinian issue — without a just solution that restores
Palestinian rights and ensures the establishment of a viable Palestinian state
on Palestinian land, people of the region will not enjoy security and
stability," said the King, who will take part in the 61st session of the UN
General Assembly, which started on September 12 (see report).
"The only lasting peace is one that all sides are convinced of and believe in
and one that follows negotiations and international agreements."
In New York, the King will address the meeting, urging the international
community to assume its responsibilities and forge a real global partnership
towards peace and stability in the Middle East, the Jordan News Agency, Petra,
reported.
On the sidelines of the gathering, King Abdullah will meet with several world
leaders to exchange views on the latest developments in the region and the
world.
On Iraq, the King expressed concern about the "daily deterioration" of Iraq's
security situation saying it stood in the way of "any serious effort to save
Iraq from the disturbances, violence, blind fighting and a plunge to civil war
that would consume all and its effects, God forbid, would destabilize the entire
region."