Speech before the Los Angeles World Affairs Council on June 5, 2000:

His Majesty King Abdullah II
King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

It really is a privilege for Rania and myself, and for my entire delegation, to be here with you today, and to address this impressive gathering of the World Affairs Council in Los Angeles. I am grateful for this opportunity of exchange and interaction, and especially thankful for your advice and for your support. At a time when the world is changing in a direction that is still unfolding, and at a pace that defies convention, this institution, with its rich talent and grand reputation, will continue to be a pillar in the study and practice of international affairs. Your role in providing advice for policy-makers has, in fact, become all the more important. In a world that is overtaken by rapid transition, and consumed by deep transformation, your contribution to the mastering of the art of human relations is essential. It is a necessity that was underlined only a few days ago here in California, by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. In her commencement speech to the graduating class of 2000 at Berkeley, Mrs. Albright eloquently pondered about when we would rise above the national, racial and gender distinctions that divide us, to embrace the common humanity that binds us. The answer depends on the choices that we all make, she said. Her words echo in the ears of responsible leaders, who assume the duty of public service with a conviction and a belief in the need to make a positive and real difference in the lives of their peoples. Ladies and gentlemen, nowhere else is there a need to emphasise the commonality of human values among different peoples, than in the Middle East. With the conflicting parties finally facing each other to address issues related to borders, sovereignty, security, and peace, our region is heralding a new and markedly different era. In that, it is following a global trend that advocates overcoming the ravages of war to build the pillars of peace. It is finally heeding the call of ordinary men and women in the Middle East, both Arab and Israeli, to find solutions to complex issues that divide, and adopt simple human virtues that unite. We all now realise that we shoulder a great responsibility towards our people and towards humanity.

It is an obligation to develop a new code of conduct that would secure the right of all, to live in peace, to belong to stable homelands, and to be free of the burden of military occupations and the threats of violence. It would give the Holy Land the opportunity to offer the tranquillity and tolerance that describe its three monotheistic religions. It would suitably turn the cradle of civilisations into a modern centre of excellence and achievement. It would harness the available rich talent in the region, with its enterprise, initiative, and ingenuity, into a success venture, of growth and prosperity for all. Ladies and gentlemen, as it ushers in a new chapter in the history of the Middle East, this third millennium will necessitate the adoption of a new mode of regional cooperation. The new framework would build upon the peaceful resolution of the political and communal conflicts. It would also cement its strength and sustainability. It would emphasise the need for transnational coordination in security matters, joint development of valuable resources, and the free movement of goods and services across boundaries. Such cooperation will necessarily address the existing disparities between states in the region, and will encourage an integrated and comprehensive approach to development. It will seek to optimise the use of available resources, and find ways to enhance regional cooperation in the process of their allocation. It will also lay the foundation for implementing projects related to water desalination and conveyance, energy exploration and distribution, and environmental protection. A regional infrastructure for transport, tourism and services can then be conceived. The adoption of this new framework would contribute to the establishment of a viable model in the Middle East. It is a necessary condition for economic and social development in the region, and a pressing requirement for its effective participation and integration in the global economy. We can no longer afford to be mere spectators of a rapidly moving international economy. In a world that is increasingly being defined by private capital investments, by free trade, and by state of the art information technology, our contribution can no longer be limited to present levels of output of isolated islands of production. The Middle East has the ability and the potential to be an example of regional development. It can establish a new pattern, where cooperation among states and more importantly, among peoples, can guarantee a more effective role in the shaping and advancement of the world economy. Its available human talents, its natural resources, and its capital assets can be more positively harnessed to the benefit of the international community. In information technology, services and many industries, our region can rapidly gain a global competitive advantage. It can contribute to the growth of added value sectors of excellence in telecommunications, software, data systems and media. More immediately perhaps, it can offer the peoples of the Middle East the opportunity to live, work, and prosper in their own countries, where they can contribute to the development of the region.

Dear friends, the model that is being proposed is similar to many other examples around the world. In Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia, regional cooperation and free trade areas allowed for private enterprise to invest, prosper, and sustain the growth of national and regional economies. The political will for cooperation in all these cases is strong and irreversible. Equally important was the establishment of a mechanism to implement the concept and to realise the vision of partnership. At the beginning of this new century, we in the Middle East are still in need of an explicit and clear political decision to pursue this path of collaboration. As the circle of peace widens to become comprehensive and more inclusive, we must venture and collectively agree on the importance of its priority. The peoples of the Middle East, tired of the pain of conflict, and eager to embrace change and modernity, deserve to belong to a progressive world where new horizons are being charted on a daily basis in education, research, technology, medicine, and information. The leaders of the Middle East must respond to such aspirations of peace, security, excellence and ambition. You, ladies and gentlemen, can contribute to the establishment of the needed mechanism to implement this concept of partnership for peace. Many initiatives emanating from the peace process that started in Madrid in 1991 attempted to fulfil this task. The multilateral track of the peace negotiations, the Barcelona Process of Partnership between the European Union and its southern Mediterranean neighbours, and the Middle East and North Africa summits are examples. Still, none of these sincere and institutional efforts has resulted in a viable mechanism for implementation. Admittedly, the impasse witnessed in the political aspect of the peace process during the last few years was not conducive to such a remarkable and ambitious task. It reminded us once again that justice must be done and the outstanding political issues must be resolved for social and economic development in our region to take place. Only then can we stop being hostage to the volatility of negotiations and the lack of political vision. It is time to remember the priorities as defined by the peoples of the Middle East. It is the time to embark upon a path of achievement and success, of harmony and prosperity.

Dear friends, the world watches the United States and gets a glimpse of things to come. In the United States, people watch what is happening in California and they predict the model of the future. This state has set an example in dealing with natural resources, and even natural catastrophes. It has pioneered the growth of technology and led the growth in the American economy. It offers many lessons in productivity and reward.

We in Jordan are closely watching. We are a small country but with big ideas. We are providing a model for our region where political stability, democratic principles and the rule of law are offering Jordanians the opportunity to excel, to contribute to the development of their country, and to be assets for their region. Our domestic reform effort is designed to be a catalyst for building a new Middle East, where social and economic development would replace political struggles, and where peace and coexistence would usher in a new reality of cooperation and fulfilment. We have made considerable progress in liberalising our economic structure, and in allowing the private sector to be a full participant in it. Our export orientation has been enhanced with our admission to the World Trade Organisation last year, and with the conclusion of Free Trade Area Agreements with a number of Arab countries, with the European Union, and hopefully soon with the United States as well. Most importantly, we have made the choice to continue investing in the development of our real assets, our human resources. We have made it a priority to secure the necessary means for elevating educational and training standards. This is the real advantage that will launch information technology in Jordan. It is the engine of growth of tourism and services, and most importantly, it is the talent that will provide the building blocs for the new Middle East. I thank you for your presence and for your attention, and I hope that we can together find the ways to cooperate on how to promote a new set of relations in our region. There is a need for a new reality where the prosperity and well?being of people are the central quest of our efforts. Too much time and certainly too many resources have been wasted on war and conflict. Let us devote our efforts now to build peace and stability. Let us work together for the dawning of a new era in the Holy Land. Let it be the sunrise of the new millennium.

Thank you very much.