Le Monde, February 22, 2005
Op-Ed
Hope of Peace in the Middle East
Op-Ed by His Majesty King Abdullah bin Al Hussein
Earlier this month, I traveled to Sharm El Sheikh
to co-host the summit at which Palestinian President Abbas and Israeli Prime
Minister Sharon pledged to reenergize the roadmap to peace in the Middle East.
Shortly afterwards, I picked up the telephone to finalize arrangements to meet
this week with President Chirac in Paris. My phone call recognized the vital
role of France in shaping a positive future for my region and all humanity: a
future of new hope, real peace, and global liberty.
At Sharm El Sheikh, the world observed sincere commitment. But history shows
that words can only be a beginning. Now and in the days ahead, the possibilities
of peace must be made real, and that will require courage, compromise, and hard
work. The friends of peace urgently need support from the international
community. And no nation has more influence in that cause than France, with its
historical prestige, fairness, and respect for other nations.
Global support for peace is more than a moral obligation. The Arab-Israeli
conflict remains the region's central crisis, causing immense suffering and
destruction, and holding back regional development. The conflict has also had an
explosive global impact, helping terrorists and extremists to foment cultural
and religious tensions across the world. Peace is thus a global cause. And
today, with French support, a roadmap for peace exists. It reflects the
breakthrough peace initiatives by Arab nations at the Beirut summit of 2002, and
has been endorsed by the Quartet parties (Europe, Russia, the UN and the US) and
the G-8 industrial nations.
The roadmap provides for a comprehensive, two-state solution, the only kind of
peace that can endure: a sovereign, democratic and viable Palestine; security
guarantees for Israel; and a process that leads to a comprehensive settlement
that addresses the Syrian and Lebanese tracks. The roadmap provides for justice
and security, bringing together the entire region, from Morocco to Yemen, in a
healing process of reconciliation and hope.
We must now work together to deliver upon that promise. France has a leading
role to play within Europe and the world in ensuring the peace process is
resumed effectively, as well as in supporting the efforts of President Abbas and
his government to create the institutions needed for peace, security and
development. One important opportunity to assist will come at the London
conference in March, which will organize international assistance for
Palestinian efforts to build democratic institutions, and will also discuss the
economic support, public and private, needed to give Palestinians a new future
of hope. As we look ahead to this meeting, as well as the Arab League summit in
Algiers, I welcome a continued close dialogue with President Chirac.
The Arab-Israeli peace process is, of course, only one area where our
partnership is urgently needed. Jordan and France share an interest in
supporting Lebanon's peaceful, democratic future. We are also working together
to help Iraq achieve security and normalization, and rebuild the country. The
success of Iraq's recent elections was an important step, but we must encourage
participation to continue in writing the constitution and in the elections that
will be held at the end of this year. Jordan is also determined to support
France in its concerns. We were proud to have played a role in securing the
release of French hostages last year, and we are again doing our utmost to
secure the release of the French journalist currently being held in captivity.
The efforts to end conflict in our region must be paralleled by efforts to
create sustainable development, giving those who are now dispossessed a stake in
a peaceful future. Today, our people, especially our young people, desperately
need access to the freedom, prosperity, and advances of the 21st century. To
achieve that, there is widespread agreement in the Arab world on the need for
reform: responsive, transparent governance; educational systems dedicated to
excellence; tangible strides in human development; and a vigorous private sector
that can help create innovation and economic growth.
Jordan has already made the commitment. Our country has made structural changes
to build democratic political life and entrench human rights and access to
opportunity at every level of society. In the economy, we have encouraged
innovation and partnership with the private sector. French investment has played
an important and welcome role. Jordan was honored to be the first Mashrek
country to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union, and we are
working closely with France and other European countries through the Barcelona
process.
My country's vision is of an open, modern civil society rooted in true
Arab-Islamic values: peace; the equal dignity of all people; the rule of law;
and the pursuit of excellence. We strongly believe in tolerance and respect for
others. Last November, Jordan issued the Amman Message to all Muslims and others
around the world, reaffirming the true Islam of peace, moderation, and progress.
We believe that Jordan's home-grown model is relevant to the entire region, in
creating development, combating extremism, and providing new hope. The “Vision
2010 for the Arab World” initiative, which will be launched at the Dead Sea
World Economic Forum meeting in Jordan next May, is bringing private and civil
society leaders from across the Arab world, to produce a practical regional
action plan.
We are grateful to France, which has taken a strong stand respecting our
region's self-generated process and encouraging its support. President Chirac
has also taken a prominent leadership role in addressing the issue of inadequate
international development funding with members of the G-8. Such efforts can
provide an international framework for increasing development funding to
countries that show a strong will to move forward, motivating positive change.
I am proud to take part in the ongoing dialogue between France and Jordan. Since
the days of His Majesty the late King Hussein, we have built a strong
partnership that continues to this day and that is based on shared interests,
grounded in the bedrock of shared ideals. Today, greater freedom and security
are tantalizingly close for more and more of humanity. I believe that working
together, we can move from the promise to the deed.