IN THE NAME OF GOD
THE MOST COMPASSIONATE THE MOST MERCIFUL

Your Majesty, Brother King Abdullah II Bin Al-Hussein Descendant of Hashem, The King of the sisterly Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,

Your Majesties, Highnesses and Excellencies,

The U.N. Secretary-General,

The Arab League Secretary-General,

Members of the Delegations,

 An optimistic analyst may not err much if he concludes that the Middle East region is going through one of the most critical juncture in its history and the most deteriorating in decades because of the very grave circumstances of the prime cause of the Arabs and Muslims: that is the cause of Palestine.

 Would it take much effort from us to understand and then to analyse such Israeli violation of international legitimacy rules, the U.N. conventions and the principles of human rights? Has force, killing and siege become values and familiar, acceptable practices that do not contravene right and law?

 This situation that seems to have emptied, or almost did so, the vocabulary of international law, the respect of sovereignty and human rights of every meaning and connotation, is the result of the flagrant contraventions of those international norms and conventions by the Israeli governments through their war machines.

  Hence we are not surprised to have arrived at the conviction that the recurrent statements of condemnation and denunciation are not heeded by Israel, as you know, but its arrogance and intransigence prompted it to openly threaten the security of sisterly Arab countries and, thus, our national Arab security.

 We, my brothers, as leaders and peoples, have a cause, and are champions of peace, not submission. Hence I address the co-sponsors of the peace conference, the other permanent members of the Security Council, The E.U. member states and all peace-loving powers, and say: Oppression portends the ruin of nations; it generates despair and relegates moderation. Maintaining stability in our region makes it necessary now to secure international protection for the unarmed Palestinian people and to curb Israeli intransigence – to apply similar measures taken in other less important cases in other parts of the world. Talking about international legality that is founded on equity and justice and realization of just and comprehensive peace requires the restoration of all Palestinian rights, withdrawal from all occupied Palestinian territories and the Syrian Golan Heights to the borders of June 4th and completion of withdrawal from the Lebanese territories to the internationally recognized borders.

 We thank Almighty God to have guided us to endorse the convening of the Arab Summit Conference on a rotational basis, the idea of which has been inspired by the sons of the Palestinian Intifada. Such regular meetings will cement our cohesion, deepen avenues of joint cooperation among ourselves, armed with the necessary political will and our civilizational depth, to establish a new climate that adopts the culture of tolerance as an attitude, a course and a strong bond in our relations and practices.

 Hence, all our peoples are waiting for positive positions and rational, practicable resolutions from us. They expect reinforcing of our political and economic support to our Palestinian brothers in their blessed Intifada, which is a legitimate exercise of self defence and for regaining the right to live in peace in an independent Palestinian State.

  Moreover, our peoples expect us to close for ever the chapter of the second Gulf crisis, to restore confidence by confirming the rights of the sisterly State of Kuwait, and the return of brotherly Iraq to its natural place in the fold of the Arab family.

 Our peoples are also looking to us to invigorate the role of the Arab League, the prime house of the Arabs, through reactivating its institutions, to renew its activity, its vigour and functions so as to respond to the requirements of the Arab nation at the beginning of the Third Millennium at the levels of political and economic integration and social development.

  More than five decades have elapsed since the Arab League was formed. However, the Arab citizen has not found in it what he looks for and what he aspires to achieve. I have the feeling that this citizen has lost faith in the viability of such summits and the effectiveness of their resolutions. He has become indifferent to the decisions presented or adopted, considering them ineffective and not viable. This is a very serious matter which is contrary to our policy as leaders and officials. We believe that the way out of this situation necessitates the application of the principle of popular participation and the activation of the role of the constitutional institutions in Arab societies, because such participation symbolizes in the hearts of peoples a right and self-determination and the future of their generations.

  Our pride in the Arab League spurs us to pursue serious, continuous action to develop it and reinvigorate its activity. We wish our new candidate for the Arab League Secretary-General post, Mr. Amr Mousa, all success to dedicate his personal skills and political experiences to the service of this Arab edifice.

 We are, my brothers, faced with an unprecedented challenge that makes it incumbent upon us to shoulder our full responsibilities before God the Almighty and before our peoples. We have great confidence in this summit for which my brother, His Majesty King Abdullah II Bin Al-Hussein, and the Jordanian people have prepared all means of success, to put the basis for effective joint Arab action that develops gains and achieves aspirations.

 May God lead us to success. And may the peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you.