Interview with His Majesty King Abdullah II

I was looking at the portraits of Hashemite kings and nobles since the beginning of the century, when I was interrupted by a young Royal Protocol staff member apologising for the delay due to "an earlier appointment of great importance." I returned his smile and reassured him that I would use the extra time to gather my thoughts and study my questions.

The young man left briefly and then returned to escort me to the hall where I would have the honour to meet with and interview His Majesty King Abdullah II. I followed him but was interrupted by a huge rectangular scale-model. I gazed at it and noted the phrase "Azraq…scale…land for housing…tourism projects" and other phrases that I cannot recall now.

Several people filed past, carrying architectural drawings and aerial photos and another huge model, discussing the details of the meeting they had just apparently had. One of them said: "I did not expect the meeting to be so detailed. His Majesty is so aware of the most intricate details and is counting a lot on this plan."

As I listened, the protocol employee hurried me along to be greeted by His Majesty, who smiled as he welcomed me and asked about my well-being and about the situation with the press. I quickly reassured him and asked His Majesty to bear with me as a persistent journalist who would quickly begin with an important question. He acknowledged and I asked: "Your Majesty, what's with the drawing plans and models, and what's the objective of the group that just emerged from the meeting?"

The King replied: "I was extremely touched by my visit to Azraq. This is my second visit in several years. I noticed minor improvement but I am not yet satisfied with the level of achievement so far. I promised our people in Azraq a master plan that addresses the issue of land use and distribution in order to achieve comprehensive development."

I interjected: "But Your Majesty, from what I have seen and read about the visit, I noticed that most concerns were focused on land distribution and if we were to look back in history, especially the law on ownership of amiri land during the Ottoman state and afterwards, we would recount that your great-grandfather, the founder of the state, His Majesty the late King Abdullah I, had started the construction and establishment phase by relinquishing amiri land in favour of the state and citizens. And so, Your Majesty is now adopting the same principle and is keen to give ownership of land to citizens to provide them with proper housing at a time when land in some countries is still registered in the names of their leaders.”

His Majesty quickly responded with warmth, and stressed that his "primary concern is to provide land and proper housing for citizens, public sector employees, members of the armed forces and security services and their retirees, as well as citizens with limited income.”

"What will please me most," he said, "is that each citizen has a decent home and decent living. This is the kind of justice we seek, and want it to be the basis and the doctrine in our Kingdom, always and for ever.”

This was the prologue to a transparent and candid conversation with His Majesty that I and Ad-Dustour had the honour to include in its pages. I decided to start with a position that reflects the character of our leader, who is totally devoted to serving Jordan and Jordanians.

Ad-Dustour today presents to its readers some of the wisdom of our leader and an insight into his vision for the future of the country and its citizens. Following is the full interview:

Ad-Dustour: Your Majesty, there are many internal challenges facing the Kingdom, foremost of which are economic. There is a state of concern among the Jordanian public, especially among the lower and middle-income sectors. What does Your Majesty say about this?

King Abdullah: I am aware of the suffering of Jordanian citizens as a result of the difficult economic conditions, and confronting these difficulties is at the top of my concerns and priorities. We will never abandon the citizen and will work diligently to address the economic repercussions of the rise in prices, especially the effect this has on the lower and middle-income sectors. I have directed the government for some time now to establish a social safety net in order to provide direct compensation to those most affected by the rise in prices. We've also stressed the need to find a mechanism that ties salaries to inflation rates so that they rise in tandem and to include every family that does not have health insurance. I know very well from my service in the Jordan Armed Forces and my contact with my sisters and brothers in different governorates, the importance citizens accord to decent housing. As I promised my sisters and brothers in the Speech from the Throne, the year 2008 will be the year of housing. I have directed the government to finalise a vision for a comprehensive housing programme that reflects our vision for a national housing initiative that will benefit public sector employees, members of the armed forces and security services and their retirees, as well as citizens with limited income. I have charged the government with establishing an association that specialises in funding housing projects whereby citizens can receive proper housing that would correspond to their income level and not increase the burden they already bear. We will announce the details of this national initiative and the plan for its implementation in the coming weeks.

Ad-Dustour: Is Your Majesty satisfied with what has been achieved so far in terms of sustainable development?

King Abdullah: I am proud of what Jordan has achieved recently in economic growth, which has exceeded expectations. We have, until now, witnessed qualitative development and progress in several fields, particularly in education. Indicators also reflect an increase in job opportunities for Jordanians and an increase in their productivity. There has been a positive and effective partnership between the public and private sectors, and I have witnessed sheer determination to move forward in this field among officials and throughout society. But so far, our gains have not been reflected in several sectors of Jordanian society, and this is not pleasing. We would like to see a more equitable distribution of economic growth that is reflected in income levels and general well- being. This of course is the big challenge for government, which should adopt the necessary policies to ensure justice in the distribution of development returns and in improving services throughout the country. This was the motivating factor for the launch of several development initiatives, foremost among them the development zones in Mafraq, Irbid and Maan - so that they can be a nucleus of economic activity that will in turn lead to improved living conditions. God willing, we will see results from these initiatives in the coming years and we are committed to making them successful just like the Aqaba Special Economic Zone has been. We also have given a lot of attention to the establishment of development projects in Ajloun, Shobak, Tafileh, Karak, Jerash, Balqa, the Jordan Valley region, Wadi Araba and Azraq.

Ad-Dustour: How does Your Majesty view the government's efforts in this regard?

King Abdullah: The government's efforts to maintain contact with citizens and address their problems and needs in various governorates are reassuring. We constantly urge the government to go out into the field and be among and with the people so that they are acquainted with their conditions, problems and suggestions and likewise, to acquaint citizens with its programs and policies that aim to provide a decent life for them. It is also encouraged to follow up on programmes and projects that are concerned with improving living standards. As for me, achievement was and will remain the basis of evaluating the work of any government. The most important achievement in my opinion is to enable citizens to find job opportunities and provide basic services for them. Several studies have been carefully prepared over the past few years and what is required now is implementation in order for us to establish economic projects, not just in the capital but throughout the country.

Ad-Dustour: Your Majesty, on the political front, where do we stand in terms of political development? In spite of the existence of a ministry for political development in the four previous governments, the political reform to which you aspire continues to move slowly.

King Abdullah: Since the beginning, through the initiatives such as Jordan First, the National Agenda and We Are All Jordan, we have sought national consensus among all sectors of Jordanian society on Jordan's political development. Successive governments have not been able to translate our vision into reality for several reasons, foremost among which are the conditions in the region which have obstructed the achievement of our objectives. I am hopeful that the next parliamentary elections will witness the participation and effective presence of political parties. For this reason, I have directed the government to open a dialogue with all parties in order to emerge with comprehensive ideas whose objectives are to strengthen political and party life. I have also directed the government to review a package of legislation relevant to political and social life, foremost of which is the Law on Charitable Societies and NGOs, the Public Assembly Law, and the Ombudsman Law - which is close to being finalised - in addition to legislation regulating the work of professional associations and the protection of women's and children's rights. We hope to see the actual implementation of the Political Parties Law soon, and this would enable civil society to evaluate this experience and strengthen the democratic process.

Ad-Dustour: How do you see the reality of political parties in Jordan? And is the Islamic Action Front a major component of Jordanian politics?

King Abdullah: We seek to entrench political life in Jordan and this requires the efforts of the state, whose role is to introduce amendments that improve the legislative environment governing political life. It requires parallel efforts of political parties to raise the quality of their performance. In this regard, political parties have to contribute to and participate in political and economic life and draft national programmes that are truly national and stem from putting Jordan's interests first. They have to identify solutions to economic, political and social challenges. This means it is time for political parties to engage in building and development. We insist that this role be real; that the parties have a real role in institutionalising and developing political life and participation. The success of any party depends on the extent to which its programmes reflect the pulse of the people, their hopes and their aspirations and their responsiveness to people's needs. The We Are All Jordan forum and the National Agenda provided recommendations in this regard. Among their suggestions: activating the political parties; and that they state their commitment to constitutionalism and their respect for pluralism. As for the Islamist movement, it is a basic part of our political scene and it is welcome, just like all other parties, to present practical, realistic and applicable programmes that reflect Jordan's national interests.

Ad-Dustour: Many citizens wonder about the support we receive from brotherly Arab states and whether it is enough in light of what Jordan is doing to protect regional security, particularly that these states have a surplus of funds thanks to rising oil prices.

King Abdullah: We have distinguished ties with our Arab neighbours, especially with the Arab Gulf states that have provided us with financial and oil assistance in the past years. This has contributed to our efforts to address economic challenges and has enabled us to move forward in our development. Parallel to this Arab support, we've been keen to realise self-sufficiency and cope with our economic realities from that perspective in order to achieve prosperity and a decent standard of living for citizens. Jordan does not tie its regional and national role to the volume of assistance it receives from any country; this is our duty, regardless of our limited abilities. We are also keen to foster the culture of self-reliance because we realise that it would lead to real and sustainable development. We also believe Arab roles and responsibilities are complementary in that Arab investment in the abilities of Arab countries benefits both countries. There is no doubt that Jordan's progress, economic and social, will make it attractive to Arab investment and this is what we seek. In this regard, I reiterate my gratitude and appreciation for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and my brother, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, for they have never failed to stand by us under all circumstances.

Ad-Dustour: US President George Bush's tour in the region raised fears that the legitimate rights of the Palestinians, especially the right of return, might be undermined. Are there any reassurances regarding these fears?

King Abdullah: First, I would like to stress that we support the Palestinian National Authority, especially on final status issues which have a direct effect on the future Palestinian state - refugees, Jerusalem, water and borders. We've exerted tremendous efforts recently to return the Palestinian issue to the top of the international community's agenda, particularly in the United States. We are working with the Palestinians and other Arab states to garner the necessary international support to achieve comprehensive and permanent peace based on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on Palestinian soil. We have warned time and again that wasting the opportunity to establish a Palestinian state will have negative repercussions not just on the Palestinians but on Israel and the region. The acceptance of Israel in the region is conditioned on an end to its occupation of Palestinian land, the establishment of a Palestinian state and the achievement of a just and comprehensive settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict. As for the rights of refugees in particular, Jordan continues to emphasise its commitment to international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. As for the Palestinian refugees in Jordan, we stress once again that their Jordanian citizenship does not deprive them of the right to return and compensation as Palestinians. This has been our unwavering position, and we are not backing away from it. It is enshrined in international resolutions, particularly UN Resolution 194, which is not negotiable, nor can it be abandoned.

Ad-Dustour: What about the continuing settlement activity? How can peace be achieved this year, as was agreed at Annapolis, in light of this Israeli policy?

King Abdullah: We have expressed our position on settlements on several occasions and in all candour. Settlements are illegal and continued settlement threatens the entire peace process because it threatens the future Palestinian state. The parties must commit to the Roadmap which addressed settlements in the very first phase. Commitment must be the gateway to the peace process that was started at the Annapolis meeting.

We have warned on several occasions that Israeli unilateralism undermines the chances for peace and all of the recent efforts to achieve it and the interest of the international community.

Ad-Dustour: Israel continues its aggression against Gaza and is killing civilians. Does this end hope to achieve peace in the region?

King Abdullah: We strongly condemn the aggression on Gaza and the siege against its people. We are in touch with our Palestinians brothers, the Arabs and international community to end this aggression and siege that violate all norms and international conventions and are strongly condemned. We have demanded that Israel immediately cease its aggression. The difficult conditions of Gaza residents and the siege imposed on them have a detrimental effect on citizens and cause a further deterioration in their living conditions. Israel must realise that there can be no serious negotiations towards the aspired peace in light of its continued aggression and violations committed against the Gaza Strip.

Ad-Dustour: Jordan is exerting huge efforts to stop Israeli arbitrary measures in Jerusalem. What has been achieved?

King Abdullah: The Palestinian issue is the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and Jerusalem is the most important issue in the conflict due to its stature and sanctity. This is our position as Hashemites and it is one that we share with every Arab and Muslim. Jordan's responsibility to preserve Islamic sanctuaries is a historic trust and one that we will not surrender until Jerusalem is liberated from occupation. Any attempt to undermine its Arab and Islamic identity is totally opposed. We stress again that sovereignty over sanctuaries is a Jordanian responsibility and we shall keep it in order to protect Al Aqsa and all other holy sites in Jerusalem until the establishment of an independent sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Ad-Dustour: Your Majesty, you recently visited Syria. What were the objectives of this visit and did you achieve them?

King Abdullah: Syria is a brotherly Arab neighbour with whom we have common interests and we remain optimistic about the future of our relations with Syria because we strongly believe that it is an integral part of the Arab world. We also cooperate in order to realise Syrian policies that are in the interest of the Arab nation and for inter-Arab ties to be based on mutual respect for the sovereignty of each state. We also seek the proper environment to launch a comprehensive peace process, of which the Syrian track would be a major part. We are very hopeful for the implementation of all agreements reached during the meeting of the Jordanian-Syrian higher committee, which will benefit both peoples. As for Syria's regional role, it is an important one that cannot be ignored. We hope for a thaw in relations between Syria and some Arab states because we want Syria to play an effective role in the Arab world. The state of estrangement that we see between Syria and some Arab countries is something we cannot accept on principle.

Ad-Dustour: Lebanon continues to be in a state of political disorientation, with the constant postponement of elections. Arab efforts have not born fruit. Are you optimistic about an exit from the Lebanese crisis?

King Abdullah: I would like to emphasise first that the stability of Lebanon and its sovereignty are red lines. Work must be done to assist Lebanon in overcoming the political crisis there. Actually, the continuation of the current situation calls for attention and far-sightedness because the differing Lebanese parties, whether opposition or loyalist, should reconcile in order to preserve Lebanon's sovereignty and independence. The Arab League initiative regarding the situation in Lebanon is a valuable opportunity and a foundation from which to achieve national reconciliation that can lead to an end of the crisis. The opportunity should not be wasted to spare Lebanon the potential repercussions which could undermine regional security.

Ad-Dustour: Where is the situation in Iraq heading and are there Jordanian efforts to support political reconciliation there?

King Abdullah: Jordan hosts a large number of Iraqis, who are among family and are guests who have our respect. They have come to Jordan because of the difficult conditions in their country and we provided them with facilities that ensure them a decent life until the violence ends and they are able to safely return to a sovereign and secure Iraq and contribute to its reconstruction. We have been keen to build ties with the Iraqi government that serve common interests. We have exerted and continue to exert every effort to assist them in the achievement of national reconciliation in Iraq and encourage all components of Iraqi society to enter the political process in order to build a strong and united Iraq and challenge attempts to divide their country and wreak chaos there. We are concerned to see Iraq return as a strong, effective player in the Arab sphere but we must stress that it is the Iraqis, themselves, who are most able to realise their national interests, provided that they are united against sectarianism and violence, which only serve Iraq's enemies.