Jordan Times
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Jordan remembers King Hussein
AMMAN (JT) - Jordan today marks the anniversary of the birth of King Hussein,
who reigned for nearly five decades.
Born on November 14, 1935 to King Talal Ben Abdullah and Queen Zein Al Sharaf,
Hussein was proclaimed King of Jordan on August 11, 1952 and a Regency Council
was appointed until his formal accession to the Throne on May 2, 1953, when he
assumed his constitutional powers after reaching the age of 18, according to the
Islamic calendar.
Throughout 47-year reign, King Hussein worked hard at building his country and
raising the living standard of citizens. He also focused on building an economic
and industrial infrastructure that would complement and enhance the advances he
wanted to achieve in the quality of life of his people.
King Hussein also struggled throughout his reign to promote peace in the Middle
East. After the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, he was instrumental in drafting UN
Security Council Resolution 242 which calls on Israel to withdraw from all Arab
lands occupied in the 1967 war in exchange for peace. This resolution has served
as the benchmark for all subsequent peace negotiations.
In 1991, King Hussein played a pivotal role in convening the Madrid peace
conference, and providing an “umbrella” for Palestinians to negotiate their
future as part of a joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation.
The 1994 peace treaty between Jordan and Israel was a major step towards
achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East.
While working towards Arab-Israeli peace, King Hussein also strove to resolve
disputes between Arab states.
During the 1990-91 Gulf War, he exerted vigorous efforts to peacefully effect an
Iraqi withdrawal and restore the sovereignty of Kuwait.
The late King’s commitment to democracy, civil liberties and human rights has
helped pave the way in making Jordan a model state in the region.
At the time of his death on February 7, 1999, King Hussein was the longest
serving executive head of state in the world.
Meanwhile, His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday received cables from senior
officials and military officers marking the anniversary.