Jordan, 2010

More than ever before, our

world is confronting multiple global crises which

cannot be effectively addressed without a coordinated,

multilateral action. No country can face these crises

and provide for its future in isolation. The threats are

global, and so are the solutions. A strong, central role

for the United Nations is essential.

It is also essential to resist forces of division that

spread misunderstanding and mistrust, especially

among peoples of different religions. The fact is that

humanity everywhere is bound together, not only by

mutual interests, but by shared commandments: to love

God and neighbour; to love the good and neighbour.

This week, my delegation, with the support of our

friends on every continent, will introduce a draft

resolution for an annual World Interfaith Harmony

Week. What we propose is a special week during which

the world’s people, in their own places of worship,

could express the teachings of their own faith about

tolerance, respect for the other, and peace. I hope that

the draft resolution will have the Assembly’s support.

Another critical area for United Nations

leadership is peace — and one peace hangs in the

balance today. With direct negotiations between the

Palestinians and the Israelis, a door opens to a final,

two-State settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

And the establishment of an independent, viable and

sovereign Palestinian State, living side by side with

Israel, will pave the way for a comprehensive regional

peace. An end to this conflict is long overdue.

No regional crisis has had a longer or broader

impact on global security and stability. No such crisis

has been longer on the United Nations agenda, or has

frustrated peacemakers more. Every resource spent in

this conflict is a resource lost for investing in progress

and prosperity. Every day spent is a day lost to forces

of violence and extremism that threaten all of us in the

region and beyond.

People are wary of disappointment, and spoilers

are doing everything they can to make us fail. We

cannot underestimate the importance of success, or the

painful cost of failure. All of us need to support swift

action, hard choices and real results. The alternative is

more suffering and deeper frustrations, with spreading,

more-vicious warfare. Such a catastrophic scenario will

continue to drag in the whole world, threatening

security and stability far beyond the borders of the

Middle East. To prevent that, the talks must be

approached with commitment, sincerity and courage.

There should be no provocative or unilateral

actions that can derail the negotiations. Instead, the

parties must work hard to produce results, and quickly.

That means addressing all final-status issues, with a

view to ending the occupation and reaching the two-

State solution, the only solution that can work, as soon

as possible. The status quo is simply unacceptable —

enough injustice, enough bloodshed.

Jordan and the rest of the Arab and Muslim world

are committed. In the Arab Peace Initiative, we reach

out to Israel with an unprecedented opportunity for a

comprehensive settlement, a settlement that will enable

Israel to have normal relations with 57 Arab and

Muslim States, one third of the United Nations. Now

we reach out to our fellow members of this United

Nations. All stand to lose if the talks fail; all gain when

peace is achieved. Our global and collective influence

is key. Together we must tip the balance towards peace.