His Majesty King Abdullah II
His Majesty King
Abdullah II's Interview with
Randa Habib, AFP
April 10, 2007
AFP: Your Majesty, the Arab Summit
decided unanimously to re-launch the Arab Peace Initiative. Does this mean that
countries like Syria and groups like Hamas are committed to direct negotiations
with Israel?
HM King Abdullah: The Arab Peace Initiative has gained Arab consensus both at the
Beirut Summit in 2002 and the Riyadh Summit in 2007. This indicates the Arabs'
sincere desire to reach a just and comprehensive peace that will pave the way
for future generations to live in security, stability and peace. It will also
enable the entire region's peoples to build a better future. If we are to reach
real peace, we need full commitment to the Arab Peace Initiative by all parties.
The ball is now in Israel's court. As for Syria and Hamas, we are not aware of
any objections on their part to the initiative, and that means they support it.
AFP: Jordan and Egypt are expected to have a key role in the "working teams"
created by the summit, to follow up with Israel on the Arab Peace Initiative.
What do you expect to be your first move?
HM King Abdullah: Naturally, there will be mechanisms to activate the Arab Peace
Initiative and maintain the momentum achieved before, during and after the
Riyadh Summit. We have been and continue to be active on all fronts to advance
it in the international community. I believe this will be the core
responsibility of the committees and working teams. We are in constant touch
with Arab leaders and the Arab League to ensure the initiative achieves its
goals; a comprehensive resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, a solution to
the Palestinian issue - the core conflict in the region - and the establishment
of an independent Palestinian state, living in security side by side with
Israel. The Israeli people should recognize that the Arab Peace Initiative
reflects collective Arab will to build a peace that puts an end to years of
violence and suffering. They also should acknowledge that this is a unique
opportunity in the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict and that it is time they
work to convince their leaders of the need to resume peace negotiations in
accordance with this initiative that guarantees security and stability for all.
AFP: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said peace could be possible within five
years, do you think the region can hold out so long?
HM King Abdullah: Peace can be reached during a much shorter time, if goodwill
prevails, and I have frequently warned about the dangers of wasting this
opportunity to achieve peace and establish security in the region. Failing to
consider the repercussions of the prevalence of violence in the region will not
be in anyone's interest. I have urged Israel on many occasions to reach out to
the Arab hand that has been extended in peace, if it wants to be part of the
region and a partner for peace. Frankly, this opportunity may not come again.
For we may find in one or two or more years that the geographic reality has
changed in a way that may make it impossible to establish the state aspired to
by the Palestinian people, especially in light of the continuation of the
construction of settlements and the separation barrier. Hence everyone will
lose; primarily Israel. It is in Israel's interest to adopt the peace proposal
offered by the Arabs in this initiative. Otherwise we will witness more
destruction, chaos, frustration and despair which will inflame extremism and
violence and be a breeding ground for terrorism that targets all and excludes
none. Here I would like to emphasize that Israel, the European states and the US
should realize that the Palestinian issue does not only concern the
Palestinians, but also has the sympathy of all Muslims from Indonesia to the
Maghreb states. As such, if Israel wants to coexist with more than a billion
Muslims, it should end its occupation of Palestinian and Arab lands.
AFP: Let me follow up on the previous question. How do you view Olmert's offer
for a summit with Arab leaders to discuss what he calls the Saudi-drafted peace
plan?
HM King Abdullah: Let me clarify that we have not received any official Israeli
response, except for what has appeared in the media. It is crucial here that we
choose our words and phrases clearly and precisely. We are speaking of an Arab
Peace Initiative endorsed by Arab leaders at the summit in Beirut in 2002. They
renewed their commitment to all its articles at the Riyadh Summit. And as I
mentioned earlier, the Israelis have to deal with the initiative seriously and
clearly and demonstrate their intentions to live in security and stability. If
Israeli leaders choose not to, then I think they would neither be serving their
people nor contributing to peace efforts and an end to the core conflict. It is
important that they revive negotiations and return to the negotiating table with
the Palestinians to resolve all pending issues in order to pave the way for
real, comprehensive and lasting peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
This will lead to the normalization of ties between the two sides as outlined in
the initiative, which I believe is an unprecedented opportunity to break the
cycle of violence and chaos and end the core conflict in the region.
AFP: Israel is clearly opposed to the return of Palestinian refugees. How will
this issue be solved?
HM King Abdullah: Under no circumstances can a real peace be reached without
resolving the Palestinian refugee issue. There are numerous international
resolutions that address the problem, and as you know, the issue of Palestinian
refugees is one of the sensitive and crucial issues. It is addressed in UN
General Assembly Resolution 194 of December 11, 1948. It was also highlighted by
the Arab Peace Initiative that called for a solution agreed by both sides and is
not imposed by anyone. Direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations on the issue will
constitute a suitable basis for finding a final solution to the Palestinian
refugee issue. What is important is that Israel deal seriously with the
Palestinian issue and respond to efforts that seek a comprehensive solution and
an end to the conflict that can achieve lasting peace enjoyed by all peoples of
the region. This peace should be based on international legitimacy and the Arab
Peace Initiative, which is the framework for achieving these objectives,
including the establishment of a Palestinian state living in peace with Israel.
AFP: King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and Iraqi President Jalal Talabani have both
called the US presence in Iraq an occupation, at a time when the US Congress is
pushing for a timetable for a withdrawal. What is your opinion about that?
HM King Abdullah: The problem with Iraq is that Iraqis themselves are divided
between those supporting US-led coalition forces in their country, those
rejecting and resisting them as occupation, and those that seek to disrupt the
political process and national reconciliation efforts. This group also seeks to
undermine the unity of Iraq by inciting sedition, sectarian strife and carrying
out terrorist acts targeting Iraqi civilians. The increased threat of violence,
tension and sectarian strife, which already claims hundreds of lives daily,
makes it very important to address the critical situation in Iraq. This
[[threat]] can only be overcome by helping the Iraqis achieve national
reconciliation and involving all sectors of Iraqi society in the political
process, and by preserving the unity of Iraq, its territorial integrity and the
future of its people over all personal or sectarian interests. Withdrawal from
Iraq without setting a timetable and without preparing the necessary conditions
that would ensure a strong central government able to run the affairs of the
state and an Iraqi force able to ensure security and stability, may only worsen
the problem and contribute to increasing violence and conflict among Iraqis.
AFP: What is the possibility of sectarian violence extending to other countries
in the region?
Today everybody realizes that once you start a sectarian issue it is very, very
difficult to pull back. So all responsible regional actors, including Iran,
understand that going down this path will be disastrous to the whole region.
AFP: Saudi Arabia has opened a channel of dialogue with Iran, do you think other
Arab countries should do the same, could this help defuse tensions in the
region?
HM King Abdullah: Channels of communication should not be closed to anyone. We
believe constructive dialogue is the way to find common ground from which to
reach solutions to our problems. Arab states have communication channels with
Iran which we hope will be in the interest of the region and its stability. We
as Arabs can build strong ties with our neighboring country, Iran, because what
ties the Arab and Iranian nations is much more than what divides them. We seek
mutual relations based on respect and understanding, not hegemony and
interference.
AFP: Your Majesty, you spoke of Jordan wanting to develop nuclear power for
peaceful means. Mr. ElBaradei is coming to Amman. What do you hope to
accomplish?
HM King Abdullah: Jordan has for years sought alternative energy sources that will
alleviate the increasing burden of importing energy amid rising fuel prices. In
order to address these challenges, we in Jordan feel, as do other countries, the
need to secure the transfer and establishment of nuclear energy technology as an
alternative to importing oil for generating electricity and water desalination.
This will help us fulfill our energy needs. Our pursuit of nuclear energy
conforms to international legality concerning the use of nuclear technology for
peaceful purposes and requires direct coordination with concerned international
regulatory agencies. We will raise the issue with Mr. ElBaradei, the head of the
International Atomic Energy Agency, during his visit to Jordan next week.
AFP: Ismael Haniya accompanied President Abbas when he called on you at the
summit. How would you describe Jordan's relations with Hamas?
HM King Abdullah: We support the choice of the Palestinian people and will continue
to support the Palestinian National Authority's efforts to preserve the unity of
the Palestinian people, end the occupation and establish the independent
Palestinian state. Let me stress here that Jordan has always dealt with
institutions and governments, rather than factions and political powers. When
Fatah was in power, we did not deal with it as a movement; we worked with
institutions that represented everyone. What matters in the end is that the
Palestinian leadership adopts a program that seeks to establish a Palestinian
state based on the Arab Peace Initiative, the peace process parameters and
international legitimacy.