Jordan Times
Thursday, June 19, 2008
We must find answers now’
By Mohammad Ghazal
PETRA - His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday said it would be a serious
mistake to miss the opportunities at hand this year to make peace.
The ultimate goal, he said, is “to establish a sovereign, independent and viable
Palestinian state... along with a secure and recognised Israel... in a region
that is unified, at peace and ready to move forward”.
Addressing an array of more than 280 participants, including some 30 Nobel Prize
winners, at the inauguration of the 4th Petra Conference of Nobel Laureates in
the ancient Nabataean city of Petra, King Abdullah said that throughout Jordan,
and across the region, millions of people want to be part of a stable, moderate,
modern Middle East (see full text of speech).
“Long after today’s conflicts are history, their lives will be shaped by what we
did this year to build the foundation for the region’s success,” the Monarch
said.
Emphasising the need for cooperation across borders to stand to the challenges
of today, the King said: “Today, unprecedented dangers remain. The security
environment is under siege by those who seek to perpetuate conflict and divide
peoples. Extremism feeds on violence and frustration. Unstopped, such trends
would threaten not only the region’s stability and development, but worldwide
security as well.”
Work towards realising peace and progress should have the support of all, King
Abdullah stressed, highlighting that the international political process is not
the only forum for change.
“While today’s headlines focus on conflict and controversy, the inside story is
the need to change lives on the ground,” His Majesty said.
The King said it was of utmost importance to cooperate across borders, on common
challenges such as economic growth, environmental issues and resource needs, to
improve living conditions, to raise incomes and create expanding opportunity and
to empower youth and give them the confidence they need, if they are to be
stakeholders in peace and progress.
Stressing the importance of the gathering, which brings together prominent
experts, innovators, writers, artists and young leaders, King Abdullah said:
“Your meetings can draw on multiple insights, frame the issues in new ways, and
find innovative new approaches. Your ability to ask the right questions and
identify what works and what does not, can help cut through failed policy
strategies... and advance those that are succeeding.”
“The Petra conference is a place where we hope great minds will converge and
great ideas result. We do not have thousands of years to respond to the dangers.
We must find answers now,” His Majesty said.
In the speech, the King emphasised the major contributions young people can make
to a better future of the region, saying: “These exceptional young men and women
represent the largest youth cohort in Middle East history. In fact - with half
the region’s population under 18 - the students who are here today are fast
becoming the region’s elder generation.”
“It is said that youth are the future. The youth with us today, and their peers
throughout the Middle East, remind us that the future is now.
“Their generation is facing immediate challenges. We need to support them in
every way possible, to prepare them to lead, to provide opportunities to excel,
to open the way to share in global progress,” the Monarch added.
Participants at the event will discuss challenges facing the world such as food
security, water scarcity, surging fuel prices, energy, education, bridging the
gap between the advanced and developing countries, in addition to issues of
development and youth and will also look into initiatives and proposals to
address these challenges.