His Majesty King Abdullah II said that we are energizing our economy, achieving structural reform and working for stable, democratic political life, pointing that the lasting peace is deep change and deep change does not come overnight.

King Abdullah's remarks came in a speech at the News Xchange 2004 conference, which is being held in the Bulgarian city of Algarve. The conference is one of the most important media conferences in the world, in which more than 500 of world's top broadcast professionals take part.

The King reiterated that laws have been drafted to liberalize the media sector in Jordan and to open the public airwaves to private TV and radio stations.

King Abdullah affirmed that Islam is a religion of peace, rooted in core values of tolerance and respect for others, adding that the vast majority of today's Muslims expect themselves to be full partners in our 21st century, on the basis of peace and shared respect.

Regarding the role which the Arab media plays in the success of the regional reform and peace, His Majesty warned that extremisms don't seek dialogue but they seek platforms and exposure and that responsible journalists deny it to them.

As for Iraq, His Majesty reiterated that there be a rebuilt, violence-free, democratic and sovereign Iraq is urgent for not only the region but also the whole world.

Regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict King Abdullah affirmed that this conflict untold suffering to the parties and held back the regional development, noting to the commitment of the Arab countries to a balanced and lasting solution based on a two-state solution.