Jordan Times
Wednesday, December 7, 2005
Khatib addresses preparatory meeting in Jeddah
JEDDAH (Petra) Minister of Foreign Affairs
Abdul Ilah Khatib told foreign ministers from Islamic countries meeting in
Jeddah on Tuesday, that Muslim nations should substitute obsolete methods to
advocate their cause with new methods and modern mechanisms if they want to
attain their aspired objectives.
In an address to the foreign ministers, attending preparatory meetings for an
emergency Islamic summit on Wednesday, Khatib said the majority of delegates and
Arab people everywhere are convinced that new methods are needed within the
Islamic framework, since the old methods have proved unproductive and
unfruitful.
He said the Kingdom's participation in the Islamic summit in Mecca stems from
its conviction that Muslim nations are currently facing major challenges and
need to take collective action and a unified stand against these issues.
In Jordan, we seek to consolidate our stand with the Muslim world and support
its efforts in addressing complicated problems, Khatib said. He noted that
Jordan plans to resubmit principles that were approved by the Amman Islamic
Conference last year, including the Amman Message, which seeks to improve the
image of Islam in the world and thwart attempts to distort the faith.
The Amman Message, issued in November 2004, spells out Jordan's understanding of
Islam as a religion that rejects extremism as a distortion of the true values of
Islam, whilst promoting the faith as one that honours all human beings and
provides common ground among different faiths and peoples.
Khatib expressed hope that the conference would adopt the Amman Message as part
of its basic documents.