Jordan, 2014

What and where

is global power? I say that global power is here in this

Hall, and it is ours if our countries work as one. That is

the great promise of the General Assembly. The times

demand that we exercise that power now and to the full.

In my region, the challenges have grown significantly

since I spoke here last year (see A/68/PV.5). Those

who say “This is not our business” are wrong. The

security of every nation will be shaped by the fate of

the Middle East. Together, we can and must undertake

urgent humanitarian and security measures, create

durable solutions for today’s crises and provide new

opportunities for dialogue, reconciliation, prosperity

and peace.

The terrorists and criminals targeting Syria, Iraq

and other countries today are extreme reflections of

a global threat. Our international community needs a

collective strategy to contain and to defeat those groups.

My country is at the forefront of that effort. We are

leading a number of initiatives to counter extremism.

As the representative of the Asia-Pacific bloc on the

Security Council, we seek a strong outcome of the

Security Council summit on threats to international

peace and security caused by terrorist acts, to be

chaired by President Obama this afternoon.

Another critical global focus must be a decisive

affirmation of mutual respect within and among

religions and peoples. The teachings of true Islam

are clear: sectarian conflict and strife are utterly

condemned. Islam prohibits violence against Christians

and the other communities that make up each country.

Let me say once again that Arab Christians are an

integral part of my region’s past, present and future.

I call on Muslim and other leaders to work together

against falsehoods and divisive actions.

Jordan is honoured to have spearheaded global

interfaith and intrareligious initiatives. Building on

that, Jordan will introduce a draft resolution covering

the general proposal that a new international offence,

falling under the crimes of genocide and crimes against

humanity, be considered on the basis of the aberrant

new crimes against religious communities seen recently

in Syria and in Iraq.

Together, let us also address the conditions that

extremists exploit. Radicalization thrives on injustice,

insecurity and marginalization. The Assembly’s

transformative development agenda can give the

world’s people a better way forward through concrete

programmes and investments that will change lives.

We must also work actively for consensus-driven

political solutions to regional crises. The security

situation in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon must be addressed

comprehensively. Jordan supports a united and stable

Iraq with an inclusive national political process. In

Syria, there must be a political solution based on

reforms that give all communities a role in rebuilding

their country. International influence is vital to bring

the moderate opposition and the regime back to the

negotiating table immediately.

The heavy flow of Syrian refugees continues. My

country is sheltering nearly 1.4 million Syrians. We

are now host to the world’s third-largest number of

refugees, and that is placing an overwhelming burden

on Jordan’s people, infrastructure and already limited

resources. The refugee crisis is a recognized global

responsibility and demands a global solution. To date,

the response has not kept pace with the real needs.

There must be a concerted effort to get humanitarian

assistance flowing inside Syria and to support host

countries and communities, including Jordan.

We cannot address the future of my region without

addressing its central conflict: the denial of Palestinian

rights and statehood. This year, yet again, we have

seen a dangerous halt in the progress towards peace

and a Palestinian State. Instead, in Gaza, we have seen

another violent detour into conflict. How shall we heal

the families who have lost so much? How shall we offer

hope to young people whose futures are at risk? A first

imperative step is to mobilize international efforts to

rebuild Gaza. As we do so, we must also marshal the

united global response needed to achieve a once-and-

for-all lasting settlement. Such action can create the

environment necessary to relaunch the final status

negotiations on the basis of the Arab Peace Initiative.

That approach offers a clear path — the only

path — to a comprehensive settlement based on the

two-State solution, international legitimacy and the

terms of reference. For Israel, it offers security and

normal diplomatic and economic relations with Arab

and Muslim States and, for Palestinians, a viable and

independent sovereign State, within the 1967 lines,

with East Jerusalem as its capital. Unilateral actions

that seek to pre-empt negotiations must end. Jordan

strongly opposes threats to the Arab, Muslim and

Christian identity of Jerusalem. As the Hashemite

custodian of Jerusalem’s Muslim and Christian Holy

Sites, I will continue to oppose any violation of the

sanctity of the Al-Aqsa mosque.

The people of Palestine seek what all humans

seek. It is the common cause of the General Assembly:

justice, dignity, opportunity and hope. That is our

global responsibility. It is in our global power, and we

must make it our global reality. Jordan stands ready to

do its part.