Jordan’s address at Arab Summit in Algeria

(Address delivered by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II, deputising for His Majesty King Abdullah II)
(Translated from Arabic)

Algeria, Algeria
02 November 2022

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Grace be to God, and prayers and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad.

President Abdelmadjid Tebboune,
Your Highnesses, Excellencies,
Your Excellency, Secretary General of the League of Arab States,

Peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.

It is my pleasure to express my deep appreciation to President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria, for hosting this Summit, and to commend your commitment towards joint Arab action.

I also extend thanks to President Kais Saied and the Republic of Tunisia, for their great efforts in undertaking the responsibilities of chairing the previous Summit.

My thanks as well to the League of Arab States for organising this Summit, and for their efforts to follow up on the decisions and recommendations of previous summits.

Your Highnesses, Excellencies,

It is time we worked together to build real and effective Arab economic cooperation networks, to put our countries on the global economic map. Global crises such as the ramifications of the COVID pandemic and the crisis in Ukraine demand integrated Arab action to counter them, especially given their implications on energy and price hikes, public debt service costs, and economic slowdowns threatening nations’ stability and security.

And as we face similar challenges and shared opportunities, we must capitalise on the promising potential in trade, investment, industry, tourism, and agriculture. The need to bolster food security, as well as energy and water resources, is now at the forefront of global challenges, demanding that we build on each Arab country’s points of strength to turn them into advantages for all our countries.

The vast natural resources in the Arab world, its strategic location, Arab trade agreements with other countries, and the immense potential of our youth—these are all advantages which, if properly tapped, can lead us to an economic resurgence and a brighter future of prosperity for our peoples.

Your Highnesses, Excellencies,

Just and comprehensive peace—on the basis of the two-state solution, the Arab Peace Initiative, international law and relevant UN resolutions—continues to be our strategic option, guaranteeing the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state on the June 4th, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital. And it is our duty, as Arab states, to step up our efforts alongside relevant international actors, in order to resume the peace process and support the steadfastness of our Palestinian brothers and sisters on their land.

As for Jerusalem, it is the centre of our unity and joint defence of our entire nation’s identity. And Jordan, under the Hashemite Custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in the city, will continue to undertake its historical role in safeguarding these holy places, in cooperation with you and our brothers in the Palestinian National Authority.

Your Highnesses, Excellencies,

The stability and security of Iraq is key to the region’s stability and security. It is incumbent upon us to support our brothers and sisters in Iraq, to enable them to progress further towards stability and achievements, so that Iraq can assume its prominent place once more in its Arab region.

As for Syria, there is no alternative to collective action than a political solution that encompasses all components of the Syrian people, safeguards Syria’s sovereignty, unity, as well as its territorial integrity, and guarantees the voluntary and safe return of refugees.

We must also strive for solutions that restore security and stability for our brothers and sisters in Yemen and Libya. Stability is critical to achieve the bright future we seek, and it is our responsibility, all of us, to resolve Arab crises.

Your Highnesses, Excellencies,

Our vibrant, and ambitious young people are our responsibility, and we must provide the opportunities that can grow their potential and unleash their creativity, empowering them to actively contribute to building their countries’ promising future, and become a force to be reckoned with towards peace and sustainable development, in the best interest of our region and our world.

Peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.