You are here

King Abdullah: Mounting accomplishments and more distinguished awards

Nov 26,2019 - Last updated at Nov 26,2019

Last Sunday the president of the Jordanian Senate, accompanied by the entire Senate membership, appeared in front of His Majesty King Abdullah at the Royal Palace to deliver the Senate reply to the King’s Speech from the Throne. The same procedure was immediately followed by the Speaker of Parliament with all Parliament members. Both National Assembly chambers’ replies expressed unlimited loyalty and support to the Hashemite leader, along with firm commitment to abide by His Majesty’s guidelines in his National Assembly speech two weeks earlier.

The 10th of November marked the inauguration of the 18th Parliament’s Fourth Ordinary Session. His Majesty addressed both chambers — the Lower House and the Senate — that convened as National Assembly; in the presence of the Executive Authority, the government, the judiciary, members of the Royal family, top rank representatives of the army and the security departments, religious leaders, the diplomatic community, the media as well as Jordanian civil society representatives and many other guests.

The Speech from the Throne (which traditionally takes place at the inauguration of every annual ordinary session of Parliament) on this landmark occasion is the Head of State’s policy statement to all the three authorities combined.

By any and all standards, His Majesty’s Speech this year was historic, because, as he plainly put it, the “ordinary session is taking place in extraordinary times, which require transparency and courage, and hard work and achievement in equal measure”. Clearly, King Abdullah was addressing all Jordanians.

“I salute every Jordanian man and woman who have contributed to the nation’s progress and development, each from their post,” he said. King Abdullah also saluted his “brothers and sisters in arms, who carry the badge we all hold dear at the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army and security agencies, active and retired", expressing to them “full appreciation and pride”.

Reminding the grand audience that it was from the same podium that he “vowed 20 years ago, to preserve the Constitution and to remain loyal to the nation”, and that his late father Al Hussein pledged him for this nation, he went on to proudly announce “and I have only ever been its loyal servant”.

The power of the King’s words has touched the heart of every Jordanian, particularly when emphasising his “responsibility for the entire nation”; but very specifically when sharing “the concern in the eyes of a father who wants to put bread on the table, the unemployed young man worried about his future and military and civilian pensioners”.

There is no doubt that all the Jordanians do see their King as their hope and their saviour and their promise. And it is that bond between the leader and the people that enables the country to cope with repeated crises, although not without difficulties. But with evident understanding that most of our problems, economic problems in particular, are the direct outcome of external factors: The crises all around and the impact of such crises on the Jordanian scene. Not just during the 20 years of King Abdullah’s reign, but actually since the country gained independence 100 years ago.

Being located right at the centre of a turbulent region, Jordan has had to cope with successive waves of refugees and displaced, share with them the little the country could afford and provide them with all their needs and services. On top of all that, there are the political pressures which the country has been subjected to submit to sinister schemes designed to impose illegal solutions to the just Palestinian Arab cause at the expense of legitimate Palestinian and Arab rights.

“We have paid a heavy price because of our historical positions.” said the King, adding: “We have undertaken bold reforms, even in the most difficult of circumstances, and have demonstrated to the world, time and again, that Jordan, whatever the challenges, does not know the impossible.”

Very truly so.

While the Jordanian leader’s efforts to bring stability to our region through political reconciliation and application of international law, particularly the chronic Arab Israeli conflict, have been relentless, King Abdullah never compromised on the principles or even considered ideas outside the perimeters of internationally recognised Palestinian and Arab rights. Jordan continues to pay for its “historical positions”, such as: The rejection of the leaked ideas of the so-called Deal of the Century; the US decisions regarding the status of Jerusalem; the conspiracy against UNRWA and the Right of  Return; the decision on the annexation of the Golan Heights; and recently the US’ scandalous decision to legitimise the Jewish settlements built illegally on occupied Palestinian territories in flagrant violation of international law, which instantly the King also rejected.

Jordan also pays for its firm position on the need to resolve the Palestinian conflict on the basis of the relevant UN resolutions that demand an end to the occupation and the rise of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. This position was reconfirmed in the November 10 Royal Speech, that equally rejected any “compromise on safeguarding Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, despite increasing dangers and threats”. And it was in the same speech that the King delighted every Jordanian by announcing on that very day “the expiration of the Peace Treaty annexes on Al Ghamr and Baqura and the imposition of our full sovereignty over every inch of those lands”.

Under the King’s wise and resolute leadership Jordan sticks firmly to its principles, exercising as much political will as needed to protect its rights to the very last grain of sand. That is why the King enjoys so much appreciation at home as well as worldwide. That is why he remains a respected voice of wisdom, peace, justice and reason. And that is why King Abdullah continues to be regularly honoured with highly prestigious awards such as the most recent “Scholar-Statesman Award”  from The Washington Institute. The King received warm congratulations for this great honour from both chambers — the Senate and the Lower House.

Within two decades, through clarity of vision, dedication, extremely hard work, courage and wisdom, King Abdullah’s accomplishments have been enormous. They have not only contribute to Jordanian stability, but have been instrumental in helping regional stability as well.

up
83 users have voted.


Newsletter

Get top stories and blog posts emailed to you each day.

PDF