AMMAN: Jordan’s King Abdallah yesterday opened the World Economic Forum by declaring that US President Barack Obama’s commitment to the two-state solution had “opened an opportunity to change the direction of events” in the Middle East.
“I was encouraged by the president’s commitment to the two-state solution, within a regional approach, for comprehensive peace. I was encouraged that in all my conversations in Washington, it was clear that people know inaction is not an option,” the monarch said.
“The new American commitment has now opened an opportunity to change the direction of events,” Abdallah told more than 1,400 political, business and civil society leaders who gathered at the eastern shore of the Dead Sea in the fifth such conference since 2004.
The Jordanian leader referred to the outcome of his meeting with Obama at the White House on April 21, when the president voiced strong support to the two-state vision for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Obama also expressed backing for the Arab peace initiative.
“The Arab peace initiative has offered Israel a place in the neighborhood and more: Acceptance by 57 nations, the one third of the UN members that do not recognize Israel,” the king said.
“This is true security — security that barriers and armed forces cannot bring. But the time to act is not indefinite. We have committed. So now must Israel,” he added.
The Arab peace blueprint offers Israel recognition by all Arab states if it withdraws from all Arab lands it occupied in the 1967 Middle East War, including East Jerusalem. King Abdallah suggested that Israel’s endorsement of the Arab peace plan would pave the ground for normalizing its ties with all 57 member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
The king called for the Middle East to become an economic “powerhouse” that could help reshape the global economy after the credit crunch.
“At this year’s forum, you will be addressing the most critical issues of our time. Let your answers by just as bold. Answers that not simply help our countries get through the global economic downturn, but ensure the region emerges as powerhouse ... and a determining factor in reshaping the global economy,” the monarch said.
The three-day meeting is being held this year under the theme: “Implications of the Global Economic Crisis for the Middle East: Home-grown Strategies for Success.”
Speaking at the opening session, WEF founder and executive chairman Klaus Schwab said that the meeting was attended by an “unprecedented number” of participants. “This proves that we are in need of joint action at this stage.”
