His Majesty King Abdullah II
Speech at the World Affairs Council
Los Angeles, CA USA
June 5, 2000
Distinguished
Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It really is a privilege to be
here with you today, and to address this impressive gathering, of the World Affairs
Council in Los Angeles. I am grateful for this opportunity of exchange and interaction,
and especially thankful for your advice and for your support. At a time when the world is
changing in a direction that is still unfolding, and at a pace that defies both logic and
convention, this institution, with its rich talent and grand reputation, will continue to
be a pillar in the study and practice of international affairs. Your role in providing
advice for policy-makers has in fact become all the more important. In a world that is
overtaken by rapid transition, and consumed by deep transformation, your contribution to
the mastering of the art of human relations is essential. It is a necessity that was
underlined only a few days ago here in California, by Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright. In her commencement speech to the graduating class of 2000 at Berkeley, Mrs.
Albright eloquently pondered about when we would rise above the national, racial and
gender distinctions that divide us, to embrace the common humanity that binds us. The
answer depends on the choices that we all make, she said. Her words echo in the ears of
responsible leaders, who assume the duty of public service with a conviction and a belief
in the need to make a positive and real difference in the lives of their peoples.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Nowhere else is there a need to
establish a commonality of human values among different peoples, than in the Middle East.
With the conflicting parties finally facing each other to address issues related to
borders, sovereignty, security, and peace, our region is heralding a new and markedly
different era. In that, it is following a global trend that advocates overcoming the
ravages of war to build the pillars of peace. It is finally heeding the call of ordinary
men and women in the Middle East, both Arab and Israeli, to find solutions to complex
issues that divide, and adopt simple human virtues that unite. We all now realize that we
shoulder a great responsibility towards our people and towards humanity. It is an
obligation to develop a new code of conduct that would secure the right of all, to live in
peace, to belong to stable homelands, and to be free of the burden of military
occupations, and the threats of violence. It would give the Holy Land the opportunity to
offer the tranquility and tolerance that describe its three monotheistic religions. It
would suitably turn the cradle of civilizations into a modern center of excellence and
achievement. It would harness the available rich talent in the region, with its
enterprise, initiative, and ingenuity, into a success venture, of growth and prosperity
for all.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As it ushers in a new chapter in
the history of the Middle East, this third millenium will necessitate the adoption of a
new mode of regional cooperation. The new framework would build upon the peaceful
resolution of the political and communal conflicts. It would also cement its strength and
sustainability. It would emphasize the need for transnational co-ordination in security
matters, joint development of valuable resources, and the free movement of goods and
services across boundaries. Such cooperation will necessarily address the existing
disparities between states in the region, and will encourage an integrated and
comprehensive approach to development. It will seek to optimize the use of available
resources, and find ways to enhance regional cooperation in the process of their
allocation. It will also lay the foundation for implementing projects related to water
desalination and conveyance, energy exploration and distribution, and environmental
protection. A regional infrastructure for transport, tourism and services can then be
conceived. The adoption of this new framework would contribute to the establishment of a
viable model in the Middle East. It is a necessary condition for economic and social
development in the region and a pressing requirement for its effective participation and
integration in the global economy. We can no longer afford to be mere spectators of a
rapidly moving international economy. In a world that is increasingly being defined by
private capital investments, by free trade, and by state of the art information
technology, our contribution can no longer be limited to present levels of output of
isolated islands of production. The Middle East has the ability and the potential to be an
example of regional development. It can establish a new pattern, where cooperation among
states and more importantly, among peoples, can guarantee a more effective role in the
shaping and advancement of the world economy. Its available human talents, its natural
resources, and its capital assets can be more positively harnessed to the benefit of the
international community. In Information Technology, services and many industries, our
region can rapidly gain a global competitive advantage. It can contribute to the growth of
added value sectors of excellence in Telecommunications, software, data systems and media.
More immediately perhaps, it can offer the peoples of the Middle East the opportunity to
live, work, and prosper in their own countries, where they can contribute to the
development of the region.
Friends,
The model that is being proposed
is similar to many other examples around the world. In Europe, North America, and
Southeast Asia, regional cooperation and free trade areas allowed for private enterprise
to invest, prosper, and sustain the growth of national and regional economies. The
political will for cooperation in all these cases is strong and irreversible. Equally
important was the establishment of a mechanism to implement the concept and to realize the
vision of partnership. At the beginning of this new century, we in the Middle East are
still in need of an explicit and clear political decision to pursue this path of
collaboration. As the circle of peace widens to become comprehensive and more inclusive,
we must venture and collectively agree on the importance of its priority. The peoples of
the Middle East, tired of the pain of conflict, and eager to embrace change and modernity,
deserve to belong to a progressive world where new horizons are being charted on a daily
basis in education, research, technology, medicine, and information. The leaders of the
Middle East must respond to such aspirations of peace, security, excellence and ambition.
You, ladies and gentlemen, can bring us closer together to end the lingering conflicts,
and adopt the new code of conduct of cooperation and of human values. You can help us
establish the needed mechanism to implement this concept of partnership for peace. Many
initiatives emanating from the peace process that started in Madrid in 1991 attempted to
fulfill this task. The Multilateral track of the Peace Negotiations, and the Barcelona
Process of Partnership between the European Union and its southern Mediterranean neighbors
are two such examples. Still, none of these sincere and institutional efforts has resulted
in a viable mechanism for implementation. Admittedly, the impasse witnessed in the peace
process during the last few years was not conducive to such a remarkable and ambitious
task. The fact remains however that social and economic development in our region cannot
remain hostage to the volatility of negotiations or the lack of political vision. It is
time to remember the priorities as defined by the peoples of the Middle East. It is the
time to embark upon a path of achievement and success, of harmony and prosperity.
Friends,
The world watches the United States and gets a glimpse of things to come…. In the United States, people watch what is happening in California and they predict the model of the future…. This state has set an example in dealing with natural resources, and even catastrophes. It has pioneered the growth of technology and led the growth in the American economy. It offers many lessons in productivity and reward. We in Jordan are closely watching… We are a small country but with big ideas. We are providing a model for our region where political stability, democratic principles and the rule of law are offering Jordanians the opportunity to excel, to contribute to the development of their country, and to be assets for their region. Our domestic reform effort is designed to be a catalyst for building a new Middle East, where social and economic development would replace political struggles, and where peace and coexistence would usher a new reality of cooperation and fulfillment. We have made considerable progress in liberalizing our economic structure, and in allowing the private sector to be a full participant in it. Our export orientation has been enhanced with our admission to the World Trade Organization last year, and with the conclusion of Free Trade Area Agreements with a number of Arab countries, with the European Union, and hopefully soon with the United States as well. Most importantly, we have made the choice to continue investing in the development of our real assets, our human resources. We have made it a priority to secure the necessary resources for elevating educational and training standards. This is the real advantage that will launch Information Technology in Jordan. It is the engine of growth of tourism and services, and most importantly, it is the talent that will provide the building blocs for the new Middle East.
I thank you for your presence and for your attention, and I hope that we can together find the ways to cooperate on how to promote a new set of relations in our region. There is a need for a new reality where the prosperity and well being of people are the central quest of our efforts. Too much time and certainly too many resources have been wasted on war and conflict. Let us devote our efforts now to build peace and stability. Let us work together for the dawning of a new era in the Holy Land. Let it be the sunrise of the new millennium.
Thank you very much.