Petra News Agency
Friday, February 22, 2008
King Abdullah’s Interview with Al Watan Al Arabi Magazine
Amman, Feb. 21(Petra)-His Majesty said that failure to resolve sensitive and
important Arab issues such as Iraq, Palestine and Lebanon will eventually cost
the region a heavy price.
In an interview with Chief Editor of the Paris-based Al Watan Al Arabi Magazine
Khaled Abul Thahir, His Majesty urged the Palestinians to end their disputes to
avert any more dangerous consequences on the Palestinian people. King Abdullah
called for backing negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis to ensure
the establishment of a Palestinian state. Abul Thahir said before he came to
Jordan he was always questioning himself how a small country like Jordan could
escape the effect of spiraling violence around it in Palestine, Iraq and
Lebanon.
“When I arrived in Amman, I saw the mountains covered with snow, but the
Jordanian welcomed me very warmly. I just then realized how this country
compromise between these paradoxes and keep itself tact in the heart of this
volatile area”. He said In response to a question on whether Jordan will take
part in the Arab summit in Damascus, His Majesty said that Syria has its weight
and importance, adding that all Arab countries were willing to take part in the
Arab summit. The King said that there is an Arab will to ensure the success of
the summit, noting that Syria has a basic role in ensuring the success of the
summit if it helps in solving some problems and does not miss the available
opportunity. “We all have to solve our problems and unify our stance on Arab
issues to ensure the success of the summit, and we hope that our Syrian brethren
will understand the Arab position,” the King added. “We also have to solve many
outstanding issues on the Arab level, mainly the Lebanese file,” His Majesty
added.
The Arab world, he said, was keen to strengthen the Arab moderation camp to
solve Arab issues, including the peace issue and the establishment of an
independent Palestinian state.
“I spoke before the US Congress and the European Union on Arab issues, mainly
the Palestinian issue and the Lebanese issue which should be solved to end the
suffering of the Lebanese people and achieve peace and stability in the
country,” he added. On Jordanian-Palestinian relations, His Majesty said these
relations were historical, adding Jordan is directly affected by events in
Palestine. “Jordan remains close to the Palestinians through bridges and through
the Palestinian Authority led President Mahmoud Abbas,” he added. The King said
that Jordan’s disagreement with Hamas is not related to the internal Palestinian
front bur rather to the security aspect.
“Jordan continued to send humanitarian aid to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
even after it announced that Hamas had struggles weapons to Jordan a few months
ago,” he added. On possibilities of establishing a Palestinian state this year,
His Majesty said that we have this year to make peace, pointing to the
Palestinian-Israeli negotiations and to the sensitive issue such as Jerusalem
and the refugees.
“I’m optimistic about the current negotiations and we have to support the
Palestinians, and we have to have an Arab and Islamic role. At one point, the
Palestinians and Israeli might solve 90 percent of the issues, but the remaining
10 percent is in need of Arab and Islamic support as it is extremely important,”
His Majesty said. King Abdullah expressed hope that the few coming months will
witness progress in negotiations. He said Arab and Islamic countries were ready
to provide support and that Syria was able to help in solving the Lebanese
issue.” it is not in the interest of Arabs to keep all files unresolved,” His
Majesty said. His Majesty said that the US was serious about solving the
Palestinian issue.
“We only have few months ahead and it will be dangerous if we don’t make use of
this short period before any change in the US administration,” he added. The
King said that we might need years to convince the new US administration of the
importance of creating a Palestinian state. “We will all pay a heavy price if
issues such as Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine remain unresolved,” he said. His
Majesty expressed concern over the current situation in the Palestinian
territories and urged the Palestinians to end their internal dispute as the
consequences will be dangerous if the situation remains as it is.