Jordan's King Abdullah 11 UN2K Address

SPEECH

BY

HIS MAJESTY KING ABDULLAH 11

AT

THE MILLENNIUM SUMMIT

OF

THE UNITED NATIONS

NEW YORK

6 SEPTEMBER 2000

Your Excellencies the Chairpersons of the Millennium Summit,

Your Excellency The Secretary General, Excellencies,

Today, the quest for peace unites us. The opportunities and perils of a new frontier challenge us, and the hopes and prayers, of millions around the world, for harmony and justice, echo, to remind us, of the historic significance of this Millenium Summit. Today provides a rare opportunity, for leaders to appraise the world's present situation, and assess its future prospects. It also marks our determination, to look forward, well beyond the unfulfilled dreams and hopes, of peaceful coexistence among peoples, of a fairer distribution of wealth among nations, of the eradication of poverty and disease, and of the protection of our environment. Despite the genuine efforts of many around the world, especially the United Nations Organization, these goals have yet to be attained. In fact, the successes of the U.N. rarely make the headline news. It is the dismal state of affairs that usually does: 30,000 infants dying everyday from preventable diseases, 100 million children living on the streets, and 1.2 billion people subsisting on less than a dollar a day. Peace, stability, and prosperity still elude many countries at the turn of the century, sacrificing the noble principles of justice, equality, and democracy, and widening the digital divide that separates them from the developed world. Now is the time, to declare our commitment, to embrace a new vision, of an order, that seeks justice and protects it, creates opportunity and sustains it, and most of all, that upholds a universal moral value, and defends it. It would form a new code of conduct that prevents conflicts, and provides for practical mechanisms of cooperation. It would draw upon the lessons of the past, and seek to chart a new course in international responsibility, one that responds to the needs of the future. In short, it is a vision that would enable us to meet what is the biggest challenge of the new millenium: that of securing the human rights, and the human development, of people around the world.

Excellencies,

My father, the late King Hussein, left us a country with noble traditions, built on a rich Islamic heritage. Jordan today tells a story of pride, of sacrifice, and achievement. It is indeed turning the vision into reality. Long suffering from the politics of despair, we have drawn lessons from a seemingly endless conflict, that has deprived peoples of their rights, their security, and peace of mind. It has denied them the opportunity to excel. We have provided an example in reaching fair agreements that allow for peaceful coexistence among states. Committed to accountable political governance, sound economic management, and a free press, we are cementing a democracy, that does not simply represent the rule of the majority, but that paves the road to equal opportunities, greater tolerance, and to the acceptance of differences. Our sacrifices in UN peacekeeping activities in Sierra Leone, East Timor and other areas, testify to our commitment to the noble goals of the United Nations Organization. It is in this same spirit that we welcome the recommendations of the Ibrahimi Panel's comprehensive report on peacekeeping, and look forward to their adoption and enforcement. U.N. Resolutions, including 194 242, and 338, must be implemented, if this century is to be safer, fairer, and more peaceful, than the departing one. Our determination to protect life on earth will be explicitly stated at the upcoming meeting of the World Conservation Congress, and the Earth Forum, which will be convened next month in Amman. Most importantly, we are pioneering a model, where the Jordanian human talent is the true measure of the wealth of our country.

Excellencies,

Our Summit today must look forward, towards realizing a vision of a tolerant and peaceful humanity, that protects life, and seeks to improve it for all. In an increasingly smaller village, we must shun conflict and rivalry. We should instead, strive to achieve the greater expectations, that this day and age entail: those of prosperity, liberty and freedom. Let us reconcile our conflicting values. Let us compete in the search for knowledge. Let us cooperate in the pursuit of excellence. Let us contribute to our humanity through achievement, peace and vision.

Thank you very much.

ENDS

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