Jordan Times
Sunday, March 9, 2008
King conveyed the right
message to US - analysts
By Hani Hazaimeh
AMMAN - His Majesty King Abdullah’s just-ended US visit conveyed the right
message to Washington, on the backdrop of the upcoming presidential election and
the escalation of violence in the region, political analysts said.
“The visit, which came amidst the primaries carried a strong message to the
incumbent US administration as well as the presidential hopefuls: there is not
much time to waste,” said Jamil Nimri.
Nimri highlighted King Abdullah’s statements during talks with US President
George W. Bush at the White House Tuesday, criticising Israeli policies of siege
and use of military force as jeopardising the peace process and threatening to
waste years of peace negotiations.
Accordng to Nimri, the Monarch also carried a message of “change your image in
the world”, to the US leaders, through a hands-on approach to regional peace and
day-to-day engagement in negotiations.
“The US administration has ignored the Palestinian-Israeli conflict for a long
time,” Nimri, a columnist at Al Ghad Arabic daily and host of political talk
shows at Jordan TV, said.
“The King made it clear that the alternative to uninterrupted US support of the
peace process is two or three more years of waiting before the new
administration sets priorities.”
The King, who arrived home Friday, concluded his activities in the US with an
interview with US-based National Public Radio (NPR).
He called for urgent progress this year towards an Israeli-Palestinian peace -
because if no progress is made now, the upcoming presidential election may mean
that a new American president may not be willing to tackle Mideast peace for
another two to three years.
He warned that “there are new state actors in the region and my fear is that the
failure of the peace process will increase the aggression of the extremists” in
the Middle East.
According to analyst and Al Rai columnist Sultan Hattab, the King deals with
“institutions rather than persons”.
“No new US administration starts from zero. They build on previous policies and
make what they believe are the necessary changes,” he told The Jordan Times.
The King’s phone conversations with Democratic hopefuls Barack Obama, Hillary
Clinton and Republican candidate John McCain comes within this context: to
ensure continued US support for peace efforts, according to Hattab.
“His message is that he is willing to cooperate with the US administration
regardless of who is elected president in November.”
The analyst noted that His Majesty met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy
before he was elected president last year.
“This has contributed significantly to bilateral relations after Sarkozy rose to
power,” Hattab added.
In addition, the columnist said: “The King believes in extending bridges of
communication with all segments of the US community and future leaders. That is
why he addresses college students, civil society organisations and congressional
leaders.”
The King started his US visit with a meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon
and discussed with him world and regional peace.
In a speech he delivered Friday, February 29, at Princeton University’s Woodrow
Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, the King stressed that the US
should be completely involved in Middle East peace process to influence the
course of discussions, monitor progress and help bridge the gaps to ensure a
final agreement by the end of 2008.
During separate meetings in Washington Monday with representatives of Arab,
Muslim and Jewish organisations, King Abdullah said Israel should be held
responsible for its commitments towards the Palestinians as agreed within the
framework of the peace process and the roadmap.
Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania acted as patrons at the
inauguration ceremony of the Congressional Friends of Jordan Caucus, which was
launched officially last year by Republican and Democratic congressmen.
The King also met separately US Vice President Dick Cheney and congressional
leaders.