Jordan Times
Thursday, December 9, 2004
King urges Iraqi Sunnis
to vote
WASHINGTON (Petra) — His Majesty King Abdullah urged the Iraqi Sunnis to take
part in the upcoming elections saying that Jordan is working hand-in-hand with
the Iraqis to hold the polls.
"I think that we have a responsibility to reach out to the Sunnis at the moment,
who are worried about elections, to say: Look, elections are going on time, and
if you don't commit to the elections, then you're going to miss the boat," King
Abdullah told CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer" programme on Tuesday.
A Washington Post interview also quoted the King as saying that if the Iraqi
Sunnis do not participate in the elections, they will miss the chance to be an
active player in the Iraqi political system, take part in writing the new
constitution and determine a better future for their country.
He warned in the interview the paper published on Wednesday against any change
in the balanced Sunni-Shiite geopolitics in the region or an external
interference in the polls, particularly from Iraq's neighbours.
Meanwhile, the Monarch hoped that the Palestinian leaders would be able during
the coming weeks to organise themselves and set their priorities in preparation
for the election, according to CNN.
Answering a question by Blitzer on the Monarch's recent decision to free HRH
Prince Hamzah from the constraints of the honorary position of Crown Prince, the
King stressed that the decision would open more opportunities for the Prince to
carry out new tasks and responsibilities along with his brothers.
Saying that Prince Hamzah "has a lot of capabilities that he can bring towards"
Jordan, King Abdullah added that he did not name a new Crown Prince.