King calls for activating pan-Arab cooperation, joint action

The following is the official translation of His Majesty King Abdullah’s speech at the 25th Arab Summit in Kuwait on Tuesday:

In the name of God, the Most Merciful, the Compassionate

God’s blessing and peace be upon Prophet Mohammad, the Faithful Arab Hashemite Prophet.

Your Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah,

Your Highnesses, Excellencies,
Your Excellency Secretary General of the Arab League,

Peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.

It is my pleasure to extend my sincerest thanks and gratitude to my brother, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, and to the state of Kuwait for hosting this session of the Arab summit, and to His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, and the state of Qatar for hosting the previous summit, and to the Arab League Secretary General Nabil El Araby and his staff for their efforts to ensure the success of this meeting.

Our Arab region continues to struggle with several challenges and threats arising from the failure to reach a just, comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestinian cause, which is the Arabs’ primary cause and core conflict in the region. Furthermore, there is the escalating Syrian crisis, the increasing magnitude of the human suffering of the Syrian people, the growing burden borne by Syria’s Arab neighbours and the continuing challenges faced by some of our fellow states, after the transformations they have undergone, to establish security and stability and continue to rebuild.

Activating pan-Arab cooperation and joint action is the way to realise the aspirations of our peoples to live in peace and security and build a better future. In this context, we should highlight the significant role played by the Arab Parliament and the need to enhance its efforts. Jordan will continue to play its brotherly and humanitarian role in upgrading and promoting pan-Arab cooperation. It will harness all its potential and energy in all international forums, particularly the UN Security Council, to serve Arab interests and issues.

Your Excellencies and Highnesses,

We have consistently stressed that the establishment of a sovereign and viable Palestinian state, based on the envisaged two-state solution, relevant international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, is the basis for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, achieving comprehensive peace and enrooting security and stability in the Middle East. The achievement of these goals is a higher Jordanian interest, as Jordan hosts the largest number of Palestinian refugees and has among our top priorities the protection of their rights.

I emphasise that all agreements on final status issues must uphold Jordan’s higher interests. Therefore, today the international community is required to assume its responsibilities, move immediately to compel Israel to stop its unilateral policies and measures and urge it to take advantage of the Arab Peace Initiative and the historic opportunity available now to achieve peace.

Jordan will also continue to carry out its religious and historical duty of preserving Jerusalem and its holy Islamic and Christian sites. It will work to help Jerusalem’s Arab population stay on their land, support their steadfastness, strengthen their presence and stand up to address Israeli violations and measures, particularly those targeting Al Aqsa Mosque, by all available means and in coordination with our brothers in the state of Palestine.

Your Excellencies and Highnesses,

The continuing crisis in Syria and the spread of extremist groups there portend disastrous consequences for the region and the world. The solution to this crisis necessitates a swift and comprehensive political transition to end the suffering of the Syrian people and meet their aspirations. It must be a solution agreed upon by all parties, one which ensures that the entire political spectrum is represented, preserves the territorial integrity and political independence of Syria and triggers internal reforms towards pluralism and democracy, leading to the return of Syrian refugees to their country.

Today, Jordan hosts around 1,300,000 Syrian nationals, including approximately 600,000 who have taken refuge in the country since the outbreak of the crisis in Syria. This makes us the third largest host of refugees in the world.

We should emphasise the need to support the hosts of Syrian refugees, and enhance their capacities and capabilities, in addition to providing support to local communities affected by the influx of refugees within these countries, not to mention the need to improve humanitarian conditions inside Syria.

Towards this end, I appreciate the great efforts exerted ??by my brother, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, and the role played by the state of Kuwait, to host the second international conference of donors to support the humanitarian situation in Syria, and all those who contributed financial support during the conference.

My brothers, Arab leaders,

Since its foundation, Jordan has consistently adhered to the principle of moderation and resisted all forms of religious, ethnic and sectarian prejudice and all aspects and root causes of extremism and terrorism.

We see that the multiple conflicts in the region have created a fertile environment for the spread of such extremism and terrorism. This requires further sincere efforts to consolidate moderation, advance the principle of active citizenship and unleash the potential of future generations.

Finally, again I thank my brother, His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, for hosting this summit and ensuring its success. I also thank our brethren in Kuwait for their warm reception and hospitality.

Praying to God Almighty to help us realise the good of our nation and our people.

Peace and God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.