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His Majesty King Abdullah II Address to the World Economic Forum's (WEF) January 23, 2004 Thank you, professor, and
thank you all. Let me say what a pleasure and an honour it is to join you again
and to participate in these sessions. We are deeply grateful to you, professor,
for making this kind of global exchange a world-shaping force for the 21st
century. And let me say, too, that
Jordanians are extremely proud of their partnership with your institution. The
Jordan Valley hosted the forum's successful extraordinary annual meeting last
June. And we are looking forward to welcoming all of you, again this year, when
the forum meets at the Dead Sea in May. I invite you to join us to articulate
our shared determination to bridge divides, build trust, and forge ahead with
the new vision of peace, security and prosperity. Friends, Every meeting of the forum
these days seems to come at a time of special challenge. It has been fifteen
years since the end of the cold war, and we are still struggling to create a
world of security and freedom. Conflicts and crises, of poverty, violence and
division, have shadowed our new century's promise. Yet, in this week's meetings,
and in many other multinational arenas, you will hear a tremendous amount of
consensus on core solutions. People know what is needed and how to achieve it.
In politics, economics, and the environment, in science, technology and society,
there's been a global march forward, despite the world's problems. We agree on
the urgency of bridging global economic and cultural divides, expanding
development and building democracy. There is equally broad agreement on security
issues, on the need to deal with regional conflicts, address the proliferation
of weapons of mass destruction, and unite in the face of terrorism. Friends, The time has come, however,
to turn the emerging moral consensus on global development and security into
practical and genuine achievement. Today's global dialogue must become a
partnership for action, for a new political will, and new mechanisms that will
make our commitments real. Peace, equity, and justice
are not just lofty goals. They are critical to the security of every nation, the
success of every private enterprise and NGO, and the opportunities and hopes of
every individual. These are the foundations of an open, global society. And that
world is put at risk, everyday that we waste by inaction. I am a believer in
specifics, so let me suggest a few. First, conflict resolution. Recent history,
in Iraq, the Balkans and elsewhere, clearly shows the need to strengthen the
multilateral political system. International structures should be made robust
enough to do the job we ask of them, helping to broker peace and build nations. We should also be closely
coordinating international security arrangements within a collective approach.
This would allow us to take the lead in setting the priorities in the war on
terror. In the economic dimension,
we all know that opportunity is a powerful force in giving people a stake in a
peaceful future. It is in our hands to create a global growth economy, access to
education and technology, and, most important, justice, to show young people,
that ours is a world of fairness, openness and hope. The Millennium Development
Goals need to be reinforced with new benchmarks for assessing progress, for
ensuring better and fairer trade, and for forging new global links. This kind of commitment, to
cooperative, dynamic action, is very real to many of us in the Arab world. We
know that we must make tangible strides in human development, for the sake of
our people and for the sake of our future. Today, the average growth in the
region is slower than other developing countries. At the same time, with more
than half of the Arab population under the age of 18, almost six million new job
seekers enter the labour force each year. Average unemployment rates are now
above 15 per cent. This means that there are not enough jobs and there is not
enough hope. It takes all sectors to
address these issues. A responsive, transparent governance, an educational
system dedicated to excellence, and a vigorous private sector that can harness
the region's tremendous human potential. Recently, the Arab Business
Council (ABC) of the WEF has brought together private-sector representatives
from across the region. In Aqaba last month, the council drafted a blueprint for
action to support economic growth. I understand that it has been adopted here at
Davos. It includes initiatives for educational and judicial reform, and an
explicit call to governments to commit to openness and freedom. The ABC is also
building bridges with other private sector groups around the world. Next month,
members of the council will join me in Malaysia to cement an emerging
partnership with New Asian Leaders, a new body of the WEF, officially launched
earlier this morning here in Davos. But we all know that
economic remedies on their own cannot yield long-term results if they are not
paired with serious political and social liberalisation. Initiative, excellence,
and innovation cannot take hold in closed societies. Friends, We cannot talk about growth
and stability in my region, or the globe, we cannot take effective action for
reform and development, without addressing a core conflict that threatens our
world, the long and hateful cycle of violence between Israelis and Palestinians.
As in other global concerns, the world knows the right thing to do. Last year,
both parties and the international community recognised the path set forth by
the Arab summit resolution and the roadmap. This initiative provides clear
principles and mechanisms for a just and lasting solution: Two secure states,
Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territories and dismantling of
settlements, two capitals in Jerusalem, and an agreed solution to the refugee
issue. This is the unavoidable road to peace. Now, with everyday of delay,
there is harm to the region and the world. For those involved, much is at stake:
Families and communities destroyed, and youthful hope that is lost to poverty
and despair. For the international community, there is also a lot at stake, the
future of global peace, and the credibility of the world's commitment to global
justice. The international community cannot afford to let the collective suicide
of Palestinians and Israelis feed rage and violence in the region and the world.
That means rejecting terror, but also condemning repression. And it means moving
forward with determination, to achieve a just and lasting peace. It is an effort
that requires the active leadership of the United States, and a collective
international alliance for peace. It would be in tune with the desires of the
overwhelming majority of Israelis. It would garner the support of the Arab
states and Europe for the Palestinian leadership. It would in fact measure our
collective resolve to translate the global moral consensus into a genuine
practical achievement. Friends, Today we face challenges in
my region and around the world, but we also face unprecedented promise. Billions
of people stand at the brink of new possibilities. This is what makes any
failure so bitter, and the sense of urgency so great. It is in our hands today
to create not simply promises, but deeds. An era of peace, a global growth
economy, expanded access to education and technology, and most important, a
world of justice. The future belongs to those who see the world in its full
dimensions, an undivided sphere. On such a globe, every point is a centre, and
every centre is a person, entitled to prosper and succeed, in peace and
security. So let us defy separation and isolation. Let us avert the clash of
civilisations, and help the overlap of cultures. Let us partner for peace. But
let us act now.
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