Interview with His Majesty King Abdullah II

Al Hawadeth: Your presence at Sharm El Sheikh for the signing of the Palestinian-Israeli agreement sheds light on your role in the negotiations. Can you tell us about this role that assisted the parties in reaching an agreement?

King Abdullah: We are concerned to move the peace process ahead and to overcome obstacles appearing during negotiations. We believe that peace is a strategic choice for the peoples of the region. Achieving such a peace necessitates progress towards goals on all tracks. We believe that the Palestinian problem is the core of conflict in the Middle East. We also believe that peace will never be reached without the prior achievement of a just settlement for this problem. We therefore take it upon ourselves to assist all parties to reach an agreement. I would like to point out here that we support and back our Palestinian brethren to establish their statehood on their native soil. We also support our Syrian and Lebanese brothers in their efforts and demands to regain their rights and occupied lands, in line with international law. We also affirm the need for the negotiations to be reinitiated on the two tracks from the point they stopped at.

Al Hawadeth: How optimistic are you that this final agreement is a major step in solving the conflict between the two parties?

King Abdullah: In principle, we are optimistic. No doubt this agreement is a step in the right direction. If the parties were to honour their signed commitments, as they should, the results would then be satisfactory and in the interests of all concerned. Early signs of respecting commitments made under the memorandum of understanding and agreement are already apparent in the release of some Palestinian prisoners and specifying dates for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from some Palestinian territories.

Al Hawadeth: Will you be participating in the final-status negotiations, especially since you are concerned with the issues of refugees and the city of Jerusalem?

King Abdullah: Final-status negotiations are a Palestinian-Israeli concern. We will be close to it, by protecting Jordanian interests in any negotiations taking place. Jordan should have a role in the negotiations tackling the issue of refugees because it hosts the largest number of Palestinian refugees. In addition to the rights of individual refugees, we also have rights as a host country of these refugees.

The situation of Jerusalem is that of an occupied Palestinian territory and whatever applies to occupied Palestinian territories also applies to Jerusalem. We support our Palestinian brethren over this issue in regaining their full rights.

Al Hawadeth: What in your opinion is a realistic solution for the issue of refugees?

King Abdullah: International legitimacy stated the framework for solving the refugee problem. Such decisions specified their right of return and compensation. It is premature to specify mechanisms to solve this problem as yet.

Al Hawadeth: Will the solution be in giving the Palestinians a capital in Abu Dis in Jerusalem?

King Abdullah: This is a Palestinian concern. The Palestinians and their legitimate leadership alone can decide where they want their capital to be. We respect their will and their decision, and support what the Palestinians accept for themselves. They know best their own affairs and it is their right to take their own national decision.

Al Hawadeth: You said recently that Jordan is no longer scared by the "alternative homeland." What do you mean?

King Abdullah: Yes, the "alternative homeland" is no longer a scary prospect. The Jordanian-Israeli Peace Agreement clearly specified our western borders. The Palestinian-Israeli agreements state the Israeli withdrawal and the establishment of a Palestinian state on land that the Israelis will vacate on the West Bank of the River Jordan. Based on this, the issue is clear to us and to the Palestinians. On the other hand, Jordan and Palestine jointly rejected the "alternative homeland" issue itself. Palestinians are aware that it was a way to avoid their legitimate rights, as well as being an attempt to infringe on other people's rights.

Al Hawadeth: You ruled out the word "confederation" from the Jordanian dictionary, and talked about a dialogue upon reaching a final Palestinian-Israeli agreement. Is the confederation conceivable then?

King Abdullah: We believe that discussing the question of a confederation at this stage is totally unfeasible. Discussing it at this stage will inflict major harm on Palestinian interest, and weakens their negotiating position. The confederation to my mind is a form of unity between two totally independent states. In light of the fact that the Palestinian state has not as yet been established in its final form, a discussion on the form of that unity is premature. We believe the confederation should be the result and not the means. In other words, it should come as a result of the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and not to solve outstanding problems on the Palestinian-Israeli track. We are not saying herewith that the confederation is an ultimate resolution for the establishment of the Palestinian state, for this too is premature. However, upon the establishment of the Palestinian state the two peoples may, and I emphasise may, wish to agree upon a form of relationship between themselves, whether it is a confederation or any other form that fulfils the aspirations of the two peoples.

Al Hawadeth: Where do the latest arrests of Hamas leaders fall in the overall settlement in the Middle East?

King Abdullah: Hamas is a non-Jordanian organisation. We would not allow such organisations, even if they were Jordanian, to operate unless they were licensed. Our decision regarding Hamas is one of pure sovereignty. Weapons and illegal documents were confiscated from Hamas offices in Amman and the whole issue is in the hands of the courts. If you are thinking that this decision comes in support of the PNA and the peace process, we would like to reaffirm our support and assistance to the PNA, which is the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.

Al Hawadeth: What is your main internal concern that would safeguard Jordan's existence?

King Abdullah: Our main concern and internal preoccupation is economic development and the improvement of the standard of living of Jordanians. We are working hard to invigorate our national economy at different levels. We have come a long way on privatisation and started to privatise some establishments such as the Telecommunication Corporation, Royal Jordanian Airlines, the Aqaba Railway Company and others. We are taking a look at some amendments to a number of laws and regulations to create a more attractive environment for investment. This would indirectly deal with unemployment and create new job opportunities.

National debt with its negative impact on the national economy remains one of our greatest concerns. We have been in contact with our creditor countries and with our friends in the world to reduce the burden of this debt or to cancel some of it. Some countries have expressed their understanding and their desire to help and support us in this.

Internally, we are determined to modernise the organisation of the civil service and to reduce bureaucracy and poor management.

Al Hawadeth: Are political and ideological parties free to exercise their activities or do you draw a line that they cannot go beyond?

King Abdullah: Political and ideological parties are free to answer your question directly. They are allowed freedom of operation within the framework of the Constitution and the laws that stem from it. As long as these parties adhere to the spirit of the Constitution and operate within the laws accepted by the people's representatives in the Lower House of Parliament they are free to operate. The line you talk about is that of respecting the Constitution and the law. Any actions outside this framework are totally rejected, whether they are taken by the parties or others.

Al Hawadeth: The Jordanian press. How do you evaluate its performance and commitment to perform its national role and adhere to the Publications Law?

King Abdullah: I think that the margin of freedom the press is given in Jordan is quite a substantial one. We have reiterated time and again that the ceiling for freedom is that of the higher national interest. It is as high as our Jordanian hopes and aspirations. There are no limitations or censorship on the press. The Journalists' Association itself assisted in drafting the Publications Law currently before Parliament.

We believe in responsible freedom. To us, responsibility is the commitment towards the higher national interest, and to the conduct and traditions of their profession. This comes out of our strong belief in the importance of the press, freedom of expression and the national role which should be carried out to enlighten people and influence public opinion. In this way, it could indirectly participate in positively influencing decision making. It can also highlight any wrongdoing or use of public resources for private means. We appreciate this role and we respect it.

Al Hawadeth: Your historic visit to Kuwait is the first undertaken by a Jordanian monarch during the past nine years. Has it opened a new chapter in relations between the two countries in different fields?

King Abdullah: Our visit to Kuwait was a successful one by all measures. I met with my brother Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah, the Emir of Kuwait. I found we shared the same understanding on the importance of opening channels of cooperation in all fields. We agreed on the importance of communication and consultation on issues of interest to both our countries, and to our Arab nation. I believe the distance between Jordan and Kuwait is a thing of the past.

Al Hawadeth: Your visit to Libya, did it improve bilateral relations?

King Abdullah: Jordanian-Libyan relations have always been positive and they are now at their best. When the embargo was enforced on Libya, Jordan was one of the first to ask for its lifting and criticised its continuation. We have had discussions with President Muammar Qadhafi on different aspects of our relationship. I believe we will witness further cooperation on the trade and economic fronts.

Al Hawadeth: The warm welcome that you are received in Riyadh, does it establish a new era of relations with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states?

King Abdullah: Relations between Jordan and Saudi Arabia and between the two ruling families are deep, historically rooted ones. They have been firmly established on grounds of cooperation for the interests of both countries. Our Saudi brethren stood by us and Jordanians witnessed this throughout our history. They have defended the Arab and Islamic nation and supported its rights and just causes. We highly appreciate His Majesty King Fahd Bin Abdulaziz and his Crown Prince, Prince Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, for their support and for all the financial assistance that Saudi Arabia granted Jordan over the past years.

Al Hawadeth: You graciously greeted President Emile Lahoud with utmost hospitality during his last visit to Amman. How do you view the development of relations between Jordan and Lebanon?

King Abdullah: Lebanon is very close to us. Relations between Jordan and Lebanon have always been distinguished. We discussed with President Lahoud during his visit all matters of mutual concern, which would enhance further our aspired course of cooperation and integration. This comes in line with our attempts to achieve further comprehensive and cooperative relations with the rest of the Arab world.

Al Hawadeth: Will improved relations with Arab countries improve Jordan's economy?

King Abdullah: Our economy is improving and our economic situation is reassuring. However, we aspire to improve this further through openness to the international economy. We are also reconsidering some legislation that would allow further privatisation activities and attract Arab and foreign investment to settle in Jordan. We affirm that Jordan's economic and trade relations with any state will not advance or be at the expense of relations with other Arab brethren states. We will work on reactivating Arab cooperation and furthering economic linkage with our brother states. This will ensure our aims and aspiration to achieve a unified Arab economy. Such a gathering would confront the greater challenges that face our Arab nation. It would also achieve a comprehensive social and economic development balance among Arab states.

Al Hawadeth: Does Jordan support a comprehensive pan-Arab economic unity ahead of further political unity? Will this affect Jordan's bilateral economic relations outside the scope of the Arab countries?

King Abdullah: We work and give support to the establishment of an economic pan-Arab unity with our utmost capability and resources. This is based on our strong belief that without a unified presence on all issues it confronts, the Arab nation will not have a highly recognised position among nations. The most prominent issues today are economic development and unified Arab efforts in this regard. On this front, we will reactivate further trade and economic cooperation with our brethren in the Arabian Gulf, Syria and Lebanon. We are committed to establishing economic integration with our Arab brethren.