CROWN PRINCE HASSAN'S SPEECH AT OPENING OF ARAVA BORDER-CROSSING
August 8, 1994
Prime Minister Rabin,
Secretary of State Christopher,
Foreign Minister Peres,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Friends,
It gives me great pleasure to join you all today, to inaugurate the
Aqaba-Eilat border gate. It is indeed a significant step towards the full
implementation of the provisions of the Washington Declaration signed at
the White House by His Majesty King Hussein together with President
Clinton and Prime Minister Rabin. The Declaration comes after years of
relentless efforts by his Majesty King Hussein to obtain a durable and
comprehensive solution of Arab-Israeli conflict.
Without prejudice to the outcome of the negotiations on the delineation
and demarcation of our common boundaries, the opening of this border gate
demonstrates our joint commitment to make a concrete contribution to peace
making.
Our presence here today signifies our determination to translate our
intentions into tangible realities on the ground. Only in this way can we
overcome the legacy of suffering and torment that dominate the daily life
of our peoples and poisons the conduct of regional and international
relations in this part of the world.
Jordan and Israel lie at the heart of the Middle East and constitute a
important confluence between three continents - Europe, Asia and Africa.
It has always been our vision that under conditions of peace, the Middle
East will be marked by the free movements of persons, capital and goods
across national frontiers. The Aqaba-Eilat border gate represents a
physical demonstration of our desire to promote inter-regional
transportation networks.
Our region is the birth place of civilization. It is the crossroads of
different cultures where their interaction has produced the sophistication
that has enthralled mankind throughout the ages. Henceforth, third country
citizens will be able to marvel at this precious heritage. It is only the
first step in the long search to realize our vision of normal and
harmonious good neighborliness. Let this gateway be a token of our resolve
that soon our peoples will be able to share, exchange and marvel at their
common legacy.
Allow me to reiterate to Prime Minister, to the Secretary what I said when
I met with President Clinton and Foreign Minister Peres at the White House
last October. The fundamental task of peace building is to alleviate the
prevalent conditions of poverty and depravation in many segments of our
societies. We agreed on the need to put an end to the politics of despair
and dispossession. Peace should relate directly to the basic interest of
those who bore the brunt of war by building material inter-dependence in
major economic spheres. Let the opening of this border gate in this
particular location mark the foundation stone on which we intend to build
our common future.
(Arabic)
Prime Minister, Secretary of State, Foreign Minister Peres
Let it be a testimony to our joint commitment to turn the Jordan Rift
Valley into a valley of hope, development and prosperity for all our
peoples. A durable peace must be underpinned by the will to do away with
disparity and social injustice and build a commonwealth of shared human
interest.
If I may quote the Bible: "Turning the valley of trouble into a gate of
hope."
Thank you.