Jordan Times
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
King urges more efforts
to advance Mideast peace
THE HAGUE (Agencies) — King Abdullah on Monday urged the international community
to press Israel and the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table and
forge a lasting Middle East peace.
"It's time to move the peace forward," King Abdullah said in remarks to the
Dutch parliament (see the full text of his remarks).
"We need an international partnership of action to encourage and support a
return to negotiations and keep the parties moving towards results." The King
said peace and stability in the Middle East can only come by tackling what he
called the region's core problem, "the continuing denial of Palestinian rights."
"Until we end that wrong, new generations will remain vulnerable to the sponsors
of hate and violence, and conflict will breed more conflict, year after year,"
he said.
The answer, he told members of both houses of the Dutch legislature, is "a
two-state solution guaranteeing Israel's security to live at peace with its
neighbours and providing, at long last, a sovereign, viable and independent
Palestine."
The Monarch’s remarks came on the first day of a three-day state visit to the
Netherlands with Queen Rania. They were met at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport by
Dutch Queen Beatrix, then given a warm welcome at Noordeinde Palace with an
honour guard. The Dutch queen presented the King with a prestigious medal.
Jordan and Egypt
signed peace treaties and have full diplomatic relations with Israel. Both are
key moderate Muslim nations in the volatile region. In mid-October, King
Abdullah met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss ongoing
differences between Abbas' moderate Fateh Party and the Hamas movement, which
led the Palestinian government following a landslide parliamentary victory in
January.
International financial assistance to the Palestinian government has been
virtually cut off because Hamas refuses to recognise Israel.
In his speech, King Abdullah also said the world must help Iraq rebuild and
restore stability. "A civil war in Iraq would be a major threat to the stability
of all neighbouring states and we must reach out to all groups to assure them of
our support for Iraq's stability and to assist them in fighting terrorism," he
said.
Queen Beatrix hosted a state banquet in honour of King Abdullah and Queen Rania.
In a speech, the King underscored the friendship between the two Royal families
"in times of joy as well as in times of sorrow."
"The values our families hold in common: Love of our countries and people… a
duty to serve… and our belief in the future."
He said his visit to the Netherlands was "to express Jordan’s continuing
friendship and esteem" to this European kingdom which, the Monarch said, is
committed to "moral leadership and practical action."
"We appreciate the Netherlands’ work for peace and global justice. … Your
country spoke out clearly and forcefully to end the aggression in Lebanon this
summer. Most important, the Dutch people have consistently supported a Middle
East peace in accord with legality, including the viable, independent Palestine
that is so urgently needed," he said. King Abdullah said Jordan is building an
open, civil society based on human rights, the rule of law, tolerance, and
inclusion.
The Dutch queen, for her part, commended the role Jordan is playing in efforts
to bring an end to conflicts and violence plaguing the region, hailing the
Kingdom as a pluralist, democratic and tolerant country whose people are dynamic
and educated.
She said King Abdullah was following in the footsteps of King Hussein in playing
a focal role in the modernisation and adaptation process that came in response
to the huge challenges facing the country. She also praised the King for his
efforts to enhance interfaith and intercultural dialogue. Earlier in the day,
the King met CEOs of major Dutch firms interested in investment in Jordan.
He said Jordan's economy was prospering despite the critical conditions
prevailing in the region, noting that real GDP growth in the first half of the
current year stood at 6.4 per cent, while the ratio of public debt to GDP was
reduced to 56 per cent.
The King, who underlined the leading role of the private sector in national
economy, said Jordan was interested in making business with Dutch companies
working in the fields of alternative energy and railroad construction.