It is an honour to return once
again to this historic setting. May I warmly
congratulate His Excellency Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz
Al-Nasser. Jordanians well remember his distinguished
tenure as Qatar’s Ambassador to Jordan. I also express
my warm congratulations to the Secretary-General on
his election to a second term.
This year, in my region and everywhere in the
world, leaders are being asked to listen and to act; to
solve today’s serious global crises in the economy, the
environment, and peace; to uphold the equal dignity of
all persons and, as provided for in the Charter of the
United Nations, the equal rights of our nations; to
create more inclusive political and economic life,
especially including young people; and to prove that
global justice, by peaceful process of law, is more than
words: it is achievable, and achievable now.
The challenge has come to my region, and
historic transformations are under way. This year, we
have witnessed vast changes, both orderly transitions
and tumultuous events with a high price in bloodshed
and loss. But those of us who have welcomed and
championed reform are hopeful. We believe that the
Arab Spring can be an opportunity to institutionalize
positive change — change that is necessary for a
strong, secure and prosperous future. We can build on
the pioneering achievements of Arab-Islamic
civilization, with its core values of compassion,
responsibility, tolerance and respect for others.
For my country, these opportunities are opening
the door to a major revitalization of our reform effort.
We want it to be an inclusive, national effort that can
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reach our goal of parliamentary Government. The
irreversible democratic change we seek means more
than establishing new structures. It means embedding a
way of life: the active responsibility of participating in
political parties; creating political, economic and social
platforms; and working with others to realize the future
our people need. It also means building reform right
into reform, including the rule of law, justice and the
rights and freedoms of democratic political life.
Early on, Jordan began a review of the
cornerstone of our political life, the Constitution.
Parliament is currently putting the final touches on
amendments for ratification by both chambers. Among
these key provisions are an independent constitutional
court and an independent elections commission.
We in Jordan are also working with our partners
to address another global danger, namely, the immense
negative impact of regional conflict. The central — the
single greatest driver of division and instability — is
the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
We are today at a dangerous impasse. The
opportunities of a year ago to move talks forward to a
clear-cut endgame failed to gain momentum.
Negotiations have come to a halt. Frustrations are at a
peak. Even as we speak, Israeli settlement activity is
ongoing, despite every ruling of international law and
in the face of strong international protest.
We are seeing settlement activity in Jerusalem,
although that is one of the key final status issues that
can only be resolved through negotiations. It is a global
concern. In my great-grandfather’s words, a sacred
chain binds Muslims around the world to that holy city.
I cannot overstate the crisis that would arise from harm
to the holy sites of any faith or from efforts to
annihilate the Arab character of East Jerusalem.
A two-State solution that ends the conflict by
meeting the needs of both sides is, and can be, the only
secure and lasting peace. A solution comprised of two
States — a sovereign, independent and viable Palestine
and Israel, accepted and secure — is the core of all
major international proposals, including the Arab Peace
Initiative.
All are agreed that negotiations must go forward,
and soon, resolving the final status of all four key
issues — borders, Jerusalem, refugees and settlements.
Only then will the conflict cease to be a flashpoint for
global violence, and people on both sides will be able
to get on with their future in peace.
President Obama recognized that strategic
imperative when he set the parameters for a solution on
19 May. The Arabs viewed these parameters positively.
Israel built settlements. The Quartet, the European
Union, President Sarkozy and other representatives of
the international community have put workable ideas
on the table. The Arab States welcomed them. Israel
built settlements. That is where we find ourselves
today.
We cannot teach the next generation respect for
law and mutual acceptance if they see law and
compromise repeatedly fail. Yet we must uphold the
law, or civilization falls. We cannot teach the value of
peaceful process if peaceful process repeatedly fails.
Yet we must uphold peaceful process, or humankind is
lost.
In this impasse, Jordan and the Arab States are
holding fast to our principles of peace and law. We
have come here - to the house of nations - to seek the
justice of nations.
We will continue to strongly support the
inalienable right of the Palestinian people to Statehood,
in fulfilment of their aspirations, in accordance with
United Nations resolutions and within a comprehensive
and just settlement, including the resolution of all final
status issues. It is their right to seek it here, in the
home of nations, the United Nations. That we must all
support.
We seek a new and vigorous international push,
with concrete steps toward the endgame. We seek not
words, not process, but a decisive end to conflict and a
new beginning in peace — the peace that comes from
real Statehood. We seek recognized rights for
Palestinians — the rights that allow people to look
forward in dignity and hope. We seek a peace that
brings real security for Israelis — who will put aside
their fortress mentality and achieve acceptance in their
neighbourhood and the world.
Men and women everywhere share basic
concerns — a better life for themselves and their
families, security to plan for the future, a say in how
society is organized and rights they can depend on. For
too many, these hopes have been unanswered. But a
new era is beginning in my region, with new
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opportunities to move forward in democracy, security
and peace.