Jordan, 2011

It is an honour to return once

again to this historic setting. May I warmly

congratulate His Excellency Mr. Nassir Abdulaziz

Al-Nasser. Jordanians well remember his distinguished

tenure as Qatar’s Ambassador to Jordan. I also express

my warm congratulations to the Secretary-General on

his election to a second term.

This year, in my region and everywhere in the

world, leaders are being asked to listen and to act; to

solve today’s serious global crises in the economy, the

environment, and peace; to uphold the equal dignity of

all persons and, as provided for in the Charter of the

United Nations, the equal rights of our nations; to

create more inclusive political and economic life,

especially including young people; and to prove that

global justice, by peaceful process of law, is more than

words: it is achievable, and achievable now.

The challenge has come to my region, and

historic transformations are under way. This year, we

have witnessed vast changes, both orderly transitions

and tumultuous events with a high price in bloodshed

and loss. But those of us who have welcomed and

championed reform are hopeful. We believe that the

Arab Spring can be an opportunity to institutionalize

positive change — change that is necessary for a

strong, secure and prosperous future. We can build on

the pioneering achievements of Arab-Islamic

civilization, with its core values of compassion,

responsibility, tolerance and respect for others.

For my country, these opportunities are opening

the door to a major revitalization of our reform effort.

We want it to be an inclusive, national effort that can

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reach our goal of parliamentary Government. The

irreversible democratic change we seek means more

than establishing new structures. It means embedding a

way of life: the active responsibility of participating in

political parties; creating political, economic and social

platforms; and working with others to realize the future

our people need. It also means building reform right

into reform, including the rule of law, justice and the

rights and freedoms of democratic political life.

Early on, Jordan began a review of the

cornerstone of our political life, the Constitution.

Parliament is currently putting the final touches on

amendments for ratification by both chambers. Among

these key provisions are an independent constitutional

court and an independent elections commission.

We in Jordan are also working with our partners

to address another global danger, namely, the immense

negative impact of regional conflict. The central — the

single greatest driver of division and instability — is

the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

We are today at a dangerous impasse. The

opportunities of a year ago to move talks forward to a

clear-cut endgame failed to gain momentum.

Negotiations have come to a halt. Frustrations are at a

peak. Even as we speak, Israeli settlement activity is

ongoing, despite every ruling of international law and

in the face of strong international protest.

We are seeing settlement activity in Jerusalem,

although that is one of the key final status issues that

can only be resolved through negotiations. It is a global

concern. In my great-grandfather’s words, a sacred

chain binds Muslims around the world to that holy city.

I cannot overstate the crisis that would arise from harm

to the holy sites of any faith or from efforts to

annihilate the Arab character of East Jerusalem.

A two-State solution that ends the conflict by

meeting the needs of both sides is, and can be, the only

secure and lasting peace. A solution comprised of two

States — a sovereign, independent and viable Palestine

and Israel, accepted and secure — is the core of all

major international proposals, including the Arab Peace

Initiative.

All are agreed that negotiations must go forward,

and soon, resolving the final status of all four key

issues — borders, Jerusalem, refugees and settlements.

Only then will the conflict cease to be a flashpoint for

global violence, and people on both sides will be able

to get on with their future in peace.

President Obama recognized that strategic

imperative when he set the parameters for a solution on

19 May. The Arabs viewed these parameters positively.

Israel built settlements. The Quartet, the European

Union, President Sarkozy and other representatives of

the international community have put workable ideas

on the table. The Arab States welcomed them. Israel

built settlements. That is where we find ourselves

today.

We cannot teach the next generation respect for

law and mutual acceptance if they see law and

compromise repeatedly fail. Yet we must uphold the

law, or civilization falls. We cannot teach the value of

peaceful process if peaceful process repeatedly fails.

Yet we must uphold peaceful process, or humankind is

lost.

In this impasse, Jordan and the Arab States are

holding fast to our principles of peace and law. We

have come here - to the house of nations - to seek the

justice of nations.

We will continue to strongly support the

inalienable right of the Palestinian people to Statehood,

in fulfilment of their aspirations, in accordance with

United Nations resolutions and within a comprehensive

and just settlement, including the resolution of all final

status issues. It is their right to seek it here, in the

home of nations, the United Nations. That we must all

support.

We seek a new and vigorous international push,

with concrete steps toward the endgame. We seek not

words, not process, but a decisive end to conflict and a

new beginning in peace — the peace that comes from

real Statehood. We seek recognized rights for

Palestinians — the rights that allow people to look

forward in dignity and hope. We seek a peace that

brings real security for Israelis — who will put aside

their fortress mentality and achieve acceptance in their

neighbourhood and the world.

Men and women everywhere share basic

concerns — a better life for themselves and their

families, security to plan for the future, a say in how

society is organized and rights they can depend on. For

too many, these hopes have been unanswered. But a

new era is beginning in my region, with new

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opportunities to move forward in democracy, security

and peace.