Jordan Times
Sunday, September 23, 2001
Senior senators highlight Jordan's 'priorities' in combating terrorism
By Caroline Faraj
AMMAN — Senate President Zeid Rifai has called on the United Nations to reject the membership of any country that is proved to support terrorism.“The international community should not accept any country that is proved to be sponsoring or hosting any terrorists as a member of the UN at all,” Rifai told The Jordan Times on Wednesday.
Rifai has described the aftermath of terrorist attacks on the US as “very dangerous” and called on Arab and Muslim countries to join international efforts in combating terrorism.
“I believe it is in all Arab and Muslim countries' benefit to have a clear position in condemning terrorism and to join the international efforts or coalition working hand-in-hand with the rest of the world in combating terrorism for the sake of their peoples,” Rifai said. “Therefore, I think it is a wise decision for us in Jordan to be part of the international coalition, because it is a war between good and evil,” Rifai added.
Rifai stressed that the attacks were unacceptable.
“There is no reason or excuse for anybody to kill thousands of innocent people from different nationalities in such a brutal way,” Rifai said.
“Those who are behind the Sept. 11 attacks should have a clear reason for such acts, otherwise we cannot consider it but a criminal and brutal terrorist act,” he added.
Asked about the coalition called by the US to combat terrorism, Rifai said: “I don't think the US is seeking a military coalition, because it has the capabilities and abilities to do that, let alone the latest technology,” said Rifai. “But I think the call is for a new approach for cooperation and support from the international community to join their efforts for fighting terrorism and guaranteeing stability and safety for their people,” he noted.
“I think the international coalition's retaliation is going to be a comprehensive long-term one, in which diplomatic, political, military and economic pressures will be used,” Rifai noted.
Most Arab leaders and politicians believe that “the logical deduction should rightly assume that such an effort will have to be organised under the auspices of the UN, as any sustained effort needs to have a legal framework.”
His Majesty King Abdullah and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak agreed to join US-led efforts designed to stem global terrorism.
Officials said King Abdullah was “trying to build a unified Arab position against terrorism for the common interest of Arabs.”
The King said in several interviews recently that he doubted the attacks would have taken place had Washington helped solve the problems in the Middle East, especially the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
For many Arabs, the collapse of the peace process and the United States' unlimited support for the Israeli government, which shows utter disrespect for human rights and is engaged in brutal acts against the Palestinians, are reasons enough to have little sympathy for the plight of the rest of the world.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister and Senator Taher Masri called for a unified Arab position in talks on the importance of solving the Middle East conflict with US or Western leaders.
Speaking at the invitation of the newly-established Media Forum: Centre for Defending Freedom of Journalists, Masri said on Wednesday that “Arab leaders should not accept to join any US coalition for free, without any price.”
“They [Arab leaders] should explain clearly and openly to the US and other Western leaders that their support for Israel is causing them problems and it is becoming very costly; reaching a just and comprehensive solution for the Middle East problem is a must and a condition,” he added.
Most regional governments are reported to be having difficulties in striking a balance between supporting Washington's crackdown on terror while, at the same time, trying not to appear sucked into the American orbit.
But Masri stressed that all Arab and Muslim countries should not accept any US interference in their domestic affairs.
“[Arab and Muslim] leaders should not accept any US interference in their domestic security or policies.”
But after the attacks on the US, are there any security measures needed to be taken by the Arab countries in order to secure their countries from any possible threat?
Rifai said “Jordan considers its stability and security and citizens as the number one priority.” Therefore, he added, it is normal to take some “precautionary measures” to protect such a priority.
Rifai noted that Jordan has always cooperated with other countries in the field of security.
A senior Jordanian official said: “Each country in this region has its priorities; some might consider terrorism as the main threat, but this, of course, differs from one party to another.”
The official did not expect any major changes to occur in the Kingdom's security plans after the attacks on the US.
“I don't expect any major changes in our defence and security priorities to take place in the near future,” the official said. “Such a step needs both proper political and financial planning,” he added.