Interview with His Majesty King Abdullah II
Nida Al Watan: What do you expect from your visit to Lebanon today, especially after this long absence?
King Abdullah: I have had a desire to visit Lebanon for a long time, especially since the two countries have special relations. I think that relations between the two peoples have recently become a little formal. I want to reopen the doors, as my father King Hussein used to do in the 50s and 60s. God willing, this visit will achieve its purpose and restore relations to normal and revive the past love and enthusiasm.
Nida Al Watan: Is it possible, through your talks in Lebanon, to reach an arrangement whereby tourist visa requirements between the two countries are cancelled?
King Abdullah: We have to find the best formula for relations between the two countries. In my opinion, economic, rather than political, matters would strengthen relations between the two countries. I ask here: Why don't we, as Arabs, coordinate with each other on economic issues? We as countries should develop and cement these relations because they are the key to bolstering political ties. I hope that our visit to Lebanon would be fruitful and would serve its purpose. I also hope that we will establish special relations. I think that the economy is the correct way, since trade it what unites the two peoples.
Nida Al Watan: I understand from what you are saying that economics can unite the Arabs?
King Abdullah: I believe that the economic path is stronger than the political path.
Nida Al Watan: The Arab League Secretary General is talking about the possibility of holding an Arab summit soon. Do you think that the atmosphere today is in favour of holding such a summit?
King Abdullah: There are a lot of sensitivities concerning the holding of an Arab summit. I believe that whenever there is a chance for us to sit together, it would be better for the region. We in Jordan are ready for any Arab meeting.
Nida Al Watan: You are ready, but the atmosphere is not conducive.
King Abdullah: With every passing month, we sense some improvement.
Nida Al Watan: After the visit of US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, we thought that the Syrian-Israeli track and the Lebanese-Israeli track would be reactivated.
King Abdullah: When you hold a meeting with anyone for the first time, it is difficult to talk publicly about this meeting. However, I think that there is some improvement and progress on this issue. We should give our brothers in Lebanon and Syria a chance to resolve their problems with Israel.
Nida Al Watan: Do you expect the negotiations to resume shortly?
King Abdullah: I am enthusiastic. We are on the right track. Jordan seeks to help all the parties in the interest of the region as a whole.
Nida Al Watan: Do you think that the fact that Albright did not set a date for the resumption of the negotiations means that she failed in her tour?
King Abdullah: Let us give enough time to each party to resolve some of its problems. Let us wait for two weeks or a month.
Nida Al Watan: There are special relations between Lebanon and Syria. Do you think it is possible to have such relations among Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon?
King Abdullah: I hope so. In my opinion, we should look at a solution to all the problems in the region. I am seeking special relations between us and Syria and Lebanon.
Nida Al Watan: It is noticeable that your relationship with Syria has improved recently.
King Abdullah: I was very pleased with the positions of Syrian President Hafeth Assad and my brother Dr. Bashar Assad. Both sides are working to establish strong relations.
Nida Al Watan: On the eve of your visit to Lebanon, what can you tell Lebanese young people?
King Abdullah: I hope that my visit to Beirut will herald a new beginning to strengthen relations between the Jordanian and Lebanese generations. We have to continue to promote these ties through an exchange of visits and establishing projects between the two countries. I am 37 years old, and 70 per cent of Jordanians are younger than I. We should give a role to the new generation to build a new history for the future of the Arab nation. The two peoples love each other, and this visit will be an opportunity to open the door between the two countries.
Nida Al Watan: We have observed that you and President Lahoud are good friends.
King Abdullah: I liked this man a lot, especially since we have much in common. He is an athlete, a military man, and follows various issues with meticulous care. This is because of his military career. I felt that President Lahoud follows the same style.
Nida Al Watan: A sense of general optimism has prevailed in the region and in major world capitals concerning the nature of the current era and the available opportunities to revitalise the peace process. Do you think that this optimism is justified or that there is some exaggeration in assessing the desire of Israeli Prime Minister Barak for achieving peace?
King Abdullah: Indeed, an atmosphere of optimism has prevailed in the region following Ehud Barak's victory in the Israeli elections. In my opinion, things are so far proceeding in a positive direction. A few days ago, we witnessed the signing of the Sharm El Sheikh agreement between the Palestinian and Israeli sides to implement the clauses of the Wye River agreement. The former Israeli government had dragged its feet concerning the implementation of this agreement. Indeed, over the past two days, we saw that the Israeli government began to release Palestinian prisoners and withdraw from parts of the West Bank. This is a positive step in the right direction to rebuild confidence and resume the negotiations, not only on the Palestinian track but also on the other tracks, as well.
We think that the optimism we have shown at this stage is justified, because the peace process has gone through difficult stages and faced many obstacles. However, I have sensed now that our brothers in Syria and Lebanon are very keen on resuming the peace process from the point where they left off. I have sensed an unshakable belief on the part of President Hafeth Assad that the return of all the occupied Syrian territories and all rights will lead us to a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace, which the people in the region aspire for. We assert that the region is now on the right track, which will lead, God willing, to peace. This will ensure a promising future for the next generations in the region.
Nida Al Watan: You have recently made a long tour that included most Arab countries. However, Jordan's political activity gives the impression that your relationship with Syria has priority. Is this due to a role you are playing to overcome the obstacles on the Syrian-Israeli negotiating track? Or is it that mutual interests between the two fraternal countries, including trade, economic, political, and other interests, are behind the warm relations between Amman and Damascus?
King Abdullah: I have made a tour that included most Arab countries. This stems from our firm belief that Jordan's depth is Arab, first and foremost. We strongly believe that the Arab nation cannot face political and economic challenges in today's world, which is witnessing the emergence of major economic blocs, without having an integral economic view of its own. The economic field enhances chances of development, security, and stability, which our nation is in dire need of.
Our relationship with Syria today is witnessing a new push toward bolstering the concept of integration and cooperation between brothers. We are planning to activate trade, economic, and cultural cooperation. We do not view integration in a partial manner with this or that Arab country. We believe in integration with all our Arab brothers, whether in Syria and Lebanon or the Arab Gulf. If we start cooperation and integration with one fraternal country, we consider this the first step, as part of a comprehensive vision, to bring about integration, which is sought by all our peoples, and promote joint Arab action between the Arab countries.
I would like to explain here that Jordan, which adheres to its firm Arab principles and which believes in the message of the Arab nation, can only side by its Arab brothers, support them, and defend their just rights. We did not play the role of mediator -- in the full sense of this word -- between Syria and Israel concerning the resumption of the peace process. We are with our brothers in Syria and Lebanon and support their legitimate and fair demands to restore their occupied territories. However, through our relationship with the two parties, Syria and Israel, we presented each party's view of peace to the other. We will spare no effort to resume the peace process and overcome the obstacles in its way in order to achieve a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace, which we defended and will defend until we achieve it.
Today, as we visit our brothers in Lebanon, we reiterate our support for these steadfast Arab people, who have always supported Arab rights and offered martyrs and sacrifices to defend the causes of the Arab nation. We will seek to enhance and develop our relations in all fields. We will also strengthen cooperation between our two countries on the principles of integration, which we aspire to achieve on the level of our greater Arab homeland.
Nida Al Watan: In the same context, have you formed a conviction that Ehud Barak is determined to fulfil his promise to withdraw from Lebanon within a year? What are his demands, or conditions, to carry out this withdrawal?
King Abdullah: As I heard from the Israeli prime minister, he is willing to discuss all aspects of the peace process, including withdrawal from southern Lebanon. The Israelis have raised the issue of withdrawal before, but on certain conditions. I think, at this stage, that resuming the peace talks on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks will enable the concerned parties to understand what the other party wants. The issue of southern Lebanon concerns us all. We in Jordan have repeatedly asked for the implementation of Security Council Resolution 425, which clearly stipulates Israel's unconditional withdrawal from southern Lebanon. We hope that the peace talks will be resumed on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks shortly and that the Israeli government will implement the relevant international commitments and resolutions. I believe that reaching a common vision of the negotiations on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks by the three parties -- Syria, Lebanon and Israel -- will make all matters related to the negotiations clearer and more precise. This applies to the duration of the withdrawal or other related issues. All these things will become clear once the negotiations resume on these tracks from the point where they left off.
Nida Al Watan: In the event of reviving the three tracks -- the Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian -- do you think it is necessary for progress on the Syrian track to be simultaneous with progress on the Lebanese track, or the Lebanese with the Palestinian? Or is it possible to make progress on one track without having to wait for similar progress on another?
King Abdullah: If simultaneity in progress on the peace process achieves the desired purpose, which is achieving a just and comprehensive peace, then we welcome and support it. However, we cannot reject progress on one track, while not waiting for another, in a manner that leads to achieving the desired peace. Jordan was among the first to call for coordination in the negotiations. Jordan went to the Madrid Conference in 1991, based on an Arab consensus. But now that the negotiations have turned out the way they did over the past years, we believe that Jordan's success in regaining its rights has reflected positively on regaining the other Arab rights. We also believe that the success of the Palestinian brothers in regaining their rights is a source of support and a push to other tracks.
Nida Al Watan: What are the prospects for the relationship with the Palestinian Authority once the final-status issues are resolved with Israel and in light of the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state? Are there plans for some kind of unity between the Kingdom and the future Palestinian state?
King Abdullah: The relationship with the Palestinians is a brotherly and strategic one. Jordan, along with the Palestinians, has managed to provide the best example of unity in the entire region. We now give our support and assistance to our Palestinian brothers to enable them to regain their legitimate rights and establish their Palestinian state on Palestinian national soil.
Unity between the Jordanian and Palestinian peoples, in any manner or form, including a confederation or otherwise, are not part of external plans and possibilities. It is part of a common vision by the people. If the two peoples believe, based on their free and independent choice, that there is a need for unity, we will be the first to support that. However, this issue cannot be considered now before the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
