Jordan, 1998

Allow me, at the outset, to congratulate you and the

Government and people of Uruguay on your election as

President of the General Assembly at its fifty-third

session. I would also like to take this opportunity to

express my deep appreciation and gratitude to your

predecessor, His Excellency Mr. Hennadiy Udovenko, for

his successful and distinguished management of the last

session.

I would be remiss if I failed to pay tribute as well to

the Secretary-General, His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan,

for his efforts to promote the authority of this

Organization and achieve its noble aims and objectives

and those of its Charter. I note in particular his report on

the work of the Organization, and I emphasize that he

may count on the full support and cooperation of my

delegation in his efforts to establish peace and security in

the world.

Jordan has always believed in the noble aims and

objectives of the Charter of the United Nations. We have

made every possible effort to maintain international peace

and security, particularly in the Middle East, a volatile

region whose peoples have, for over half a century,

suffered from the scourge of war and from conflicts and

disturbances and who have lived under difficult

circumstances characterized by confrontation and

polarization. Jordan, under the leadership of His Majesty

King Hussein Ibn Talal, has always been an oasis of

security and stability. It has always raised the voice of

reason and moderation and as a result has had to shoulder

heavy burdens that have exhausted its natural, financial

and economic resources and placed an additional strain on

its development process.

Throughout the past decades, Jordan has made

continuous efforts to achieve a peaceful and honourable

settlement of the Arab-Israeli conflict. It continues to

strive towards that goal by upholding the peace treaty

which it reached with Israel within the framework of the

Madrid Conference, and it continues to support efforts to

reach an agreement on the Palestinian, Israeli and other

tracks.

However, the peace process remains deadlocked,

despite the efforts to move it forward, including the

initiative being made by the United States on the

Palestinian track. As we recognize the centrality of the

Palestinian track as regards the peace process, we value

the positive stand taken by the Palestinian leadership and

its sincere desire to reach an agreement that would end

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the deadlock on this track and result in the full and clear

acceptance of this initiative.

We therefore demand that the Israeli Government

declare its full acceptance of the United States initiative,

carry out its commitment under the agreements and remove

all obstacles to reaching an agreement on redeployment and

other outstanding issues. This would make it possible to

achieve real progress on this track with a view to ending

the deadlock, resuming and attaining the objectives of the

peace process and ensuring the legitimate national rights of

the Palestinian people, including the right to establish their

independent State on their national territory.

Citing security considerations as pretexts for

obstructing actual progress will further undermine the

security of every party in the region. Security cannot be

enhanced except through a just and honourable peace, one

which is convincing to the peoples of the region and one

which they can defend.

The occupied city of Jerusalem has been the most

important component of the Arab-Israeli conflict throughout

its various stages. It is part of the Arab territories occupied

in 1967. Therefore, any consideration that apply to those

territories also apply to Jerusalem, in particular Security

Council resolution 242 (1967).

We call upon Israel to cease and void all actions that

would change the status of the Holy City. Under the Oslo

accords concluded between Israel and the Palestine

Liberation Organization, it was agreed that the final status

of the city was to be decided in final status negotiations.

Any unilateral actions taken before the conclusion of those

negotiations would constitute a violation of the Oslo

accords and of all resolutions of international legitimacy.

Until the status of the city is finally decided, it should

remain open to all adherents of the three divine,

monotheistic religions. Jordan has for many years assumed

responsibility for maintaining the sanctity of the city of

Jerusalem and has also taken it upon itself, under the

circumstances of the occupation, to take care of and

preserve the Holy Places.

On the other hand, Israel should desist from all

unilateral actions against the Palestinian people, such as

closures, sieges, arrests, the demolition of homes, the

confiscation of land and the building of settlements in the

occupied Palestinian territory, including Jerusalem. Israel

must lift the restrictions that hinder the development of the

Palestinian economy and enable the Palestinian people to

start establishing normal economic relations with the

outside world, free from domination and from economic

control. It must also deal with the Palestinian people as

its partners in the peace process, partners who are looking

forward to living side by side with Israel on the basis of

good neighbourliness and equality, not as a people under

occupation.

With regard to negotiations on the other tracks,

Israel must prove its seriousness about resuming

negotiations with Syria and Lebanon from the point at

which they ended, ensuring its withdrawal from the

Syrian Arab Golan to the borders of 4 June 1967,

implementing Security Council resolution 425 (1978) by

unconditionally withdrawing from southern Lebanon and

reaching peace agreements with both of them, on the road

towards achieving a comprehensive peace in the region.

Five decades have passed since the tragedy of the

Palestinian refugees began. The United Nations Relief and

Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

(UNRWA) continues to carry out its duties towards the

Palestinian refugees — a recognition by the international

community of its responsibility with regard to this

tragedy. However, in recent years UNRWA has been

suffering from severe financial crises, which sometimes

threaten to suspend or put an end to its services and the

completion of its work. We would therefore like to

emphasize once again that Jordan attaches the utmost

importance to the continuation of UNRWA?s work,

especially given the fact that Jordan hosts the largest

number of Palestinian refugees and provides services to

them above and beyond the budget of UNRWA.

Jordan has consistently called for UNRWA to

continue its work until the refugee problem is completely

resolved through the return of refugees to their land and

homes and/or their compensation in accordance with

General Assembly resolution 194 (III). The expiry of the

five-year transitional period under the Oslo accords does

not mean that UNRWA?s mission is over or that there is

no longer any need for it to exist. The basic condition for

the end of UNRWA?s mission is an agreement on a final

solution to the refugee problem and on the full and

complete implementation of that agreement.

We understand the continued existence of UNRWA

and its work from three perspectives: the human, the

political and the legal. To ignore any of them would

prejudice international responsibility for the tragedy of the

refugees, who have been displaced from their homes. We

therefore appeal to the donor countries to continue to

make contributions to UNRWA, increasing them as much

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as possible in proportion to the natural increase in the

numbers of refugees and the need to satisfy their basic

humanitarian needs. We also appeal to all financially able

States to provide the necessary financial support to

UNRWA.

We draw your attention to the fact that were UNRWA

to stop providing services to refugees, this would in itself

constitute an additional obstacle to the peace process, in

addition to destabilizing the region through the frustration

caused by increased poverty among the refugees and the

deterioration of their economic situation.

It is indeed sad that while the world celebrates the

fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights we still talk about the

deteriorating situation of the Palestinian refugees and their

human basic rights. On this occasion, we are called upon to

work for increased commitments to respect and to find an

effective international mechanism to implement

international instruments relative to human rights, away

from selectivity and double standards. We are also called

upon to establish a balance between these international

instruments, on the one hand, and the national systems and

laws in force in various countries of the world, without

prejudice to the principle of State sovereignty, on the other.

We therefore feel that we should recall the appeal made

from this rostrum by His Royal Highness Crown Prince El-

Hassan for the establishment of a new international

humanitarian order. In this spirit, my country participated

and supported the adoption of the Statute of the

International Criminal Court in Rome earlier this year.

Cooperation and coexistence among different religious

and ethnic groups requires a formula for dialogue among

civilizations and religions to replace the concepts of conflict

and fear of foreigners which has emerged recently.

Dialogue among religions will highlight the common

denominators among the different beliefs of the world?s

peoples and would explain their foundations to the other

parties, thereby making it easier to understand and to

coexist with one another.

The desired inter-religious dialogue is the best way to

confront the incipient manifestations of animosity and the

attempts to distort the image of Islam and Muslims,

whether those living in their home countries or those who

have emigrated to non-Muslim countries. It is necessary to

have a deeper understanding of Islam and the Muslims,

away from the blind bigotry which leads to unfair

generalizations about, and the stereotyping of, over one

billion Muslims. From that narrow view, bigotry leads to

animosity towards Islam and the Muslims on the basis of

actions committed by a minority which is farthest

removed from Muslims and the tolerant concepts of

Islam.

The question of human rights leads us to mention

the continued suffering of the Iraqi people over the past

eight years as a result of economic sanctions. While we

call upon the Government of Iraq to fully and

meticulously comply with all Security Council resolutions,

to cooperate fully and constructively with the United

Nations towards that end and to commit itself to

repatriating Kuwaiti prisoners of war and missing persons,

we call upon the international community to relieve the

suffering of the Iraqi people. We also emphasize the

independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of both

Iraq and Kuwait.

Other peoples in the region, like the Libyan and

Sudanese peoples, have suffered and continue to suffer

from sanctions. Others who were not targeted by

sanctions have also suffered from the impact of these

sanctions. My country, Jordan, was the first to suffer

tremendous damage to its economy as a result of the

sanctions imposed on Iraq. Nevertheless, we have not

only patiently persevered; we have made our best efforts

to abide by Security Council resolutions out of respect for

international legitimacy.

Weapons of mass destruction constitute a dangerous

source of tension and instability. The Middle East region

has been afflicted with the existence of these weapons.

Perhaps the ideal solution to dispose of weapons of mass

destruction and to end the tension and instability caused

by their presence is by concluding international treaties

establishing zones free from nuclear weapons and other

weapons of mass destruction in various regions of the

world, including the Middle East.

We view with utmost concern nuclear tests carried

out recently in South-East Asia in the context of an arms

race which, if continued, would have extremely dangerous

consequences. A majority of the world?s countries have

for a long time committed themselves to international

guarantees that would prevent the proliferation and use of

nuclear weapons. It is very unfortunate that some would

depart from this moral commitment which had previously

prevented them from falling into the trap of a vain

nuclear arms race in that region. In this regard, we call

upon all countries that have not yet done so to accede to

the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in

order to safeguard international peace and security and

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contribute to the attainment of the goal of general and

complete disarmament. This would enable humanity to rid

itself of the terror of nuclear weapons and other weapons

of mass destruction.

We view with particular sensitivity the threat posed by

weapons of mass destruction. Israel possesses and is

developing a nuclear-weapons arsenal. The possibility of a

confrontation between it and other States that have such

weapons or other weapons of mass destruction, such as

chemical and biological weapons, makes us live under the

threat of these weapons and the dangers of their use at any

moment. Therefore we demand that a regional security

mechanism be established and that a forum be established

to discuss this matter in a way that would ensure the

removal of this threat. In this context, there is a need to

establish conflict-resolution and conflict-prediction centres

in the region to anticipate such disputes before they occur

and to prevent them from happening and escalating.

The comprehensive concept of security — a concept

that is in conformity with the new developments and

concepts that have matured recently, particularly after the

end of the cold war and the disappearance of the policy of

polarization — has become a wide concept that carries

within it all concerns and problems — economic, social,

political and humanitarian. These problems may lead to the

marginalization and frustration of large sectors of society

that would in turn sow the seeds of instability and

disturbances which lead to the escalation of existing

disputes and the creation of new ones. It would also lead to

the growth and spread of terror to a disturbing extent.

Jordan has for so long called for the rooting out of the

scourge of terrorism by eliminating its causes and by

establishing justice and political solutions, accepted and

preserved by peoples. We have also called for confronting

terrorism with all the firmness needed and for the concerted

and systematic international action required under the

umbrella of the United Nations, guided by its Charter, to

find appropriate and effective mechanisms to combat

terrorism.

We therefore condemn the two terrorist attacks in

Nairobi and Dar-es-Salaam. We also condemn most

strongly terrorist acts of all kinds and forms wherever they

originate. In this context, it is worth noting the ceaseless

efforts made by the Organization of the Islamic Conference,

as emphasized at its Twelfth Summit Conference, held at

Tehran in December 1997, to establish a code of conduct

that would unify State views on terrorism and action by

these States to combat and eradicate it.

The General Assembly is meeting while the world

witnesses conflicts and struggles in various regions like

the Balkans, Asia and Africa. In Kosovo, massacres are

still being committed against innocent civilians despite the

recent Security Council resolution on that question. In

Afghanistan, the Congo and other places, fighting

continues despite international efforts to stop the

bloodshed and find solutions within the framework of the

Charter and the principles of international law.

Peacekeeping operations are among the most

important activities undertaken by our Organization for

the promotion of world peace, security and stability.

Jordan has always believed in the noble goals of these

activities and for several years has participated in them.

The world has made important steps towards the

disposal of anti-personnel landmines, which every year

kill thousands of innocent people and leave thousands

more with permanent disabilities, preventing them from

exercising their natural right to life. In recognition of the

importance of the Convention banning anti-personnel

mines, Jordan has decided to accede to it. Her Majesty

Queen Noor has sponsored the international effort to rid

humanity of this dangerous threat, thereby embodying

Jordan?s belief in the humanitarian dimensions and the

noble goals of the Convention.

During the past few years we have witnessed

developments that have left a deep impact on the world

economy, including the transition to a market economy,

the removal of economic barriers and the trend towards

a globalized economy. Such developments place burdens

on developing countries and their economies. This

requires finding the necessary means to avoid the negative

impact of these developments on these countries and to

help them adapt their economies to the changes and

prepare them to join the World Trade Organization

(WTO).

Among these modalities is a commitment by wealthy

countries to increase official development assistance, to

find comprehensive solutions to the problem of external

debt, to integrate developing countries into the world free-

trade system, and to improve terms of trade.

As a developing country, Jordan has suffered from

economic problems, which grew worse following the Gulf

war of the early 1990s. With the help of the International

Monetary Fund (IMF), Jordan has pursued structural

adjustment policies that have resulted in tangible progress.

Jordan has succeeded in reducing its budget deficit and

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the size of its external debt. It has improved its

macroeconomic indicators, reformed financial regulations in

its banking sector and energized the role of the private

sector. Yet we still face a difficult economic situation

owing to regional conditions and to the impact on our

economy of the crisis in countries of South-East Asia, with

many of which we maintain close economic ties. Our

exports to those countries have been adversely affected by

the crisis.

Improving the economic situation in our region

requires the removal of barriers and restrictions that

obstruct the flow of goods and services among the countries

of the region, and cooperation among those countries in

confronting the economic and environmental challenges

before us. We are all aware that the problems and

challenges we are confronting are increasing in scope and

in complexity; most of them defy individual or immediate

solution. We need increased cooperation to deal with them

on the basis of the interdependence and interrelationship of

events throughout the world.

We live in one world, a world in which distances are

shrinking and barriers disappearing. For international

cooperation in the interest of humanity to be sustainable,

we must all avoid confrontation and abide by international

law. No State should be above the law. We must therefore

foster democracy in the international system; that system

should be free of hegemony and inequality. The United

Nations should be viewed as the framework of that

cooperation; this would build smaller States? confidence in

justice.

As we stand on the threshold of the third millennium,

we hope that dialogue among peoples and civilizations will

be strengthened. We hope that attitudes and actions will be

defined by the fact that what we do today will affect future

generations. Our concern for future generations obliges us

to create conditions that are better than those of the past.

We can do this only with mutual understanding and

coexistence, and only with the political will to create a

better world. We are confident that future generations

deserve that from us, and we are confident that we can

provide it.