DOCSLIB.ORG

Stellar Queen Rania of Jordan

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Stellar Queen Rania of Jordan You met then-Prince Abdullah bin own feet and walk away from the effects example, the Syrian refugee crisis Al Hussein of Jordan, your future of poverty. Sixty per cent of the Arab has morphed into a humanitarian husband, at a dinner party – and world’s population is under the age of 25. disaster with serious implications we were married six months later. This statistic is often referred to as a cannot ignore; Jordan has received To many people this sounds like “demographic gift”, but with a quarter around 1.3 million Syrian refugees a fairytale – is that how you see it? of them unemployed – and that’s double since the beginning of the crisis. We met at a dinner with mutual friends the global average – if it’s a gift for One out of every seven citizens is of ours, back in early 1993. He had such anyone, it’s for the extremists who want a Syrian refugee in my country. a great smile and such infectious to prey on and manipulate the hopeless. You’ve spoken very frankly in energy, we got on really well. And the Now, more than ever, the classroom has the past about the Syrian refugee rest, as they say, is history! So, how become our first line of defence against crisis and Islamophobia. What I met my husband and life partner, extremist ideology. I’m sure Australia do you wish to say to Stellar His Majesty King Abdullah II, may can relate as it is no stranger to the readers about those issues? “ BEING A sound like a fairytale, but being a recruitment of foreign fighters by radical The Syrian refugee crisis and queen is a job like any other. It has groups in the Middle East and North Islamophobia are different issues, nothing to do with crowns, carriages Africa, and has put commendable but I think they are definitely related or castles. I made a commitment to the measures in place to fight this in that, faced with the largest people of Jordan to serve them to phenomenon at home. You cannot kill humanitarian crisis and case of mass the best of my ability, and I try to live an ideology with a bullet. Education is displacement of our time, many have QUEEN up to that commitment every day. an investment we make in our people resorted to fear and Islamophobia In 1999 your husband became instead of empathy and compassion. IS A JOB the King of Jordan and, aged just “I believe there is no Sadly, the word refugee today has 28, you became the Queen. How become so politicised and the narrative did you manage that transition? contradiction between so polarised, it’s been stripped of all LIKE ANY That was obviously a defining moment Islam and progress its tragedy and the human suffering in my life. On the one hand, we were and sorrow it carries. It is heartbreaking coming to terms with the enormity or modernity” to see something so fundamentally OTHER” of losing King Hussein; humanitarian transformed an inspirational leader into something political, and and peacemaker. And at THE ROYAL FAMILY (from left) exploited to garner popularity the same time, we were Prince Hashem, Princess Iman, King and votes. At the core of the HER MAJESTY dealing with the enormous Abdullah II, Queen Rania, Princess refugee crisis are human beings responsibility we had just Salma and Prince Hussein. who have lost everything QUEEN RANIA been handed – effective through no fault of their own. AL ABDULLAH OF immediately. And I wasn’t You have asserted that expecting that at the age of there is “nothing Islamic” JORDAN SPEAKS 28. From being responsible for about ISIS and spoken my own children at the time of the danger in allowing EXCLUSIVELY (a handful in itself!), I found the group to identify or TO STELLAR myself sharing responsibility correlate its violence for the nation’s children, too. with Islam. Interview by HANNAH JAMES I was awed, scared, humbled Yes, I have said it many and hopeful. All I knew for times and I’ll say it again: sure at that moment was that these extremist groups have life would never be quite the hijacked Islam to further he’s a mother of four, same. There isn’t exactly a their own heinous and violent a children’s book author, a manual to doing the queen agenda. They have nothing to former employee of Citibank thing right. But with time, and to protect them from exploitation and do with my religion, which teaches and Apple in Amman – and with His Majesty’s support, I tried falling vulnerable to recruitment. A tolerance, compassion, forgiveness Queen of Jordan. Her Majesty to do my best for my country and its huge factor in the future of this war and peace. A recent study showed that SQueen Rania Al Abdullah, 46 – who, like people. Slipping into that role was against extremist ideology is our more than 70 per cent of Daesh recruits the Duchess of Cambridge, has her an extraordinary privilege. narrative, and we need to employ had only basic knowledge of Islam, and every sartorial step breathlessly You are known for your quality education to offer a counter- that many were ordering The Koran chronicled in the international media philanthropy. Which causes are narrative, as well as promise and for Dummies and Islam for Dummies – uses her profile and social-media particularly close to your heart? opportunities, in order to quash the books before joining. Unfortunately, following (yes, the Queen of Jordan has Education and community evil forces that are trying to drag today, perceptions of Muslims and her own YouTube channel: Queen Rania) empowerment have always been top the whole world behind. Islam are almost exclusively based on to shine a light on social causes and priorities because without them, How do you sift through the many the actions of these extremist groups issues, ranging from Islamophobia a society cannot progress or develop worthy causes that are competing who have exploited our faith to divide to immigration. an immunity to threats. Educating for your attention? us. Their violence has triggered a global In her first interview with an people and giving them the tools to I think context is a big part of this wave of Islamophobia based on skewed Australian publication, Queen Rania empower themselves is our best bet at decision-making process: asking perceptions of Muslims and Islam. tells Stellar about the role of a thoroughly meeting the challenges we face today. myself what is most urgent, and most Ironically, this is exactly what they modern royal in a changing world. It allows the poor to stand on their needed, in this time and place. For want: for the world to marginalise 12 stellar 13 Muslims and for these Muslims to the voiceless. It has helped make moment with their children count You recently released an official fall vulnerable to their recruitment us better listeners, who are more because they grow up so fast! portrait and photo diary to mark campaigns. That’s why we Muslims emphatic, more tolerant and more You’ve been married for 23 your 46th birthday. What do you face the tremendous responsibility aware of the millions of tales around years. What’s the biggest lesson think of selfies? of reclaiming our faith from these us. But it is equally volatile with a dark marriage has taught you? I’m not a big fan, but I must admit I’ve outlaws. As Muslims, we have to side. The fight we have on our hands It taught me that there is no greater made a few exceptions. Most recently, win the moral narrative; we need to in the Middle East is as much over support system than a strong partnership I took one with student-teachers at the work harder at revealing extremists’ narrative as it is over territory. And and family. The world sometimes throws launch of [the Queen Rania] Teacher falsehoods for what they are, and unfortunately, Daesh has successfully unexpected hurdles your way, and the Academy’s new professional training destroy their moral and religious managed to use social media in this unconditional love and support that program. I’m a big fan of teachers and legitimacy to their potential recruits. fight to propagate their radical beliefs. family offers is what keeps you going. their crucial role in a society’s progress, There are still many stereotypes We must take back the power to His Majesty is my truest friend, my so if I was going to make an exception about the Middle East held by “I hope when I give define who we are. Moderates must confidant, my role model… I feel truly regarding selfies, I think it makes sense Westerners. What would you say use social media to tell a different story, blessed and grateful for him every day. that I made it for them! to people who believe Muslim a speech about an issue QUEEN OF HEARTS Her Majesty to show the world that there is more to With the relentless focus on the You were named the most beautiful women are oppressed? I care about, what I takes a selfie at the Queen Rania the Arab world than the extremists Duchess of Cambridge’s outfits, the consort (queen by marriage) in the Let me clarify the false association Teaching Academy; (left) meeting would have them believe. spotlight on royal fashion has never world. How did that make you feel? between Islam and the oppression say matters more than a resident of Al Koum Ahmar You are also a mother to four been brighter.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Polityka Wizerunkowa Haszymidzkiego Królestwa Jordanii Ze Szczególnym Uwzględnieniem Roli Pierwszej Damy
    POLITYKA WEWNĘTRZNA I BEZPIECZEŃSTWO DOI: 10.12797/Poliarchia.03.2015.04.04 Katarzyna ANDRYS [email protected] POLITYKA WIZERUNKOWA HASZYMIDZKIEGO KRÓLESTWA JORDANII ZE SZCZEGÓLNYM UWZGLęDNIENIEM ROLI PIERWSZEJ DAMY Abstract Impression Management Policy of the Jordanian Royal Family with special attention to the position of the first lady Impression Management Policy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is the image creation of this country within and outside its borders. The main actors in this process are the King and the Queen. This image is diversely interpreted and every so often is on the verge of suppressing the reality. In Jordan, the mis‑ sion of the King in creating a plausible image of his country seems to be large‑ ly complicated. The monarch has to reconcile different groups of people, such as conservatives or refugees with economical dependency to the USA, Israel or Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The Hashemite Monarchy is a particular case among the Middle Eastern countries, because the role of the Queen in public life is cru‑ cial. With the exception of the King, photographs of the royal family, or even the Queen alone, are often encountered. The present Jordanian Queen, Rania Al ‑Abdullah, is one of the most recognized Middle Eastern women, mostly be‑ cause of her skilful promotion in worldwide media. The Queen is chiefly pro‑ moting education, women and children’s rights and charity organizations. The image of the country created by the Queen is parallel to the King’s activity and also affects his image positively. keywords Jordan, Hashemite Royal Family, Impression Management Policy, Abdullah II, Rania Al -Abdullah 52 Katarzyna Andrys POLIARchia 1(4)/2015 WStęP Polityka wizerunkowa Jordanii to przede wszystkim kreowanie wizerunku państwa poprzez działalność króla i królowej.
    [Show full text]
  • Violet Benneker.Indd
    Cover Page The handle https://hdl.handle.net/1887/3192803 holds various files of this Leiden University dissertation. Author: Benneker, V.L. Title: Patchwork compliance: political dialogues about contested human rights Issue Date: 2021-07-01 The conditions for political dialogue in Jordan 74 | Chapter 4 4.1 Introduction This is the first empirical chapter about the case study of Jordan. It investigates the key actors and presence of the scope conditions that start a political dialogue as well as the conditions that shape such a dialogue. It discusses Jordan in the first years of King Abdullah II’s reign that started in 1999. It describes the country’s vulnerability to the human rights community, and the norm monitoring and demands for compliance made by the respective UN monitoring bodies. It also describes the space the Jordanian decision-makers had to create consensus, by discussing the country’s vulnerability to the Arab-Islamic international community and several domestic communities, and the specificity of their respective norms. The chapter then moves on to describe the changes in these conditions that occurred over time up to 2017, and finds that there are two focal points in which these conditions changed considerably: the period after 9/11, and the Arab Spring and its aftermath. The chapter concludes with further specified propositions as based on these findings, that will be further investigated in Chapters 5 and 6. It is important to note that from this chapter onwards, the phrase ‘international human rights community’ that was used in previous chapters is replaced by ‘Western-oriented international community’.
    [Show full text]
  • Literature and Social Studies Unit on Cultural Diversity & Tolerance
    Literature and Social Studies Unit on Cultural Diversity & Tolerance *NOTE* To teach this unit you will need to purchase the book The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rania. 1. Introduction to the Story The Sandwich Swap 2. Vocabulary cards: tolerance, diversity, culture 3. About the Author: Queen Rania of Jordan Article and Questions 4. Map to locate the Middle East and Jordan. 5. Sticky Note Comprehension Questions for The Sandwich Swap 6. Hummus & Pita vs. Peanut butter and Jelly Class Graph 7. Writing Prompts Based on Story (4) 8. A Day In My Life: Aadila Reading Passage 9. Venn Diagram Craftivity 10. Compare and Contrast Comprehension Questions 11. Salma and Lily Craftivity © Julie Bochese Introduction to Story 1. Show students the cover of The Sandwich Swap. Explain that students will be reading this story and completing activities based on it. First, it is important to learn about the author. 2. Read About the Author: Queen Rania of Jordan as a class or have students read independently. 3. Introduce key vocabulary through the text: tolerance, culture. Tolerance is accepting others despite their differences. (Give an example of how you are tolerant such as I am Christian and celebrate Christmas, but I am tolerant of people who are other religions and celebrate different holidays.) Culture is a group of people that have a common language, religion, beliefs, and food. Culture can also be where you live or your family is from. (Give an example of your culture. I am American. I love to eat pizza and hotdogs and we celebrate the 4th of July.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of the Middle Eastern First Lady in the Public Sphere: a Case Study of Queen Rania of Jordan
    Competition and Cooperation in Social and Political Sciences – Adi & Achwan (Eds) © 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, London, ISBN 978-1-138-62676-8 The role of the Middle Eastern first lady in the public sphere: A case study of Queen Rania of Jordan R.N. Fitria & Apipudin School of Postgraduate, Department of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia ABSTRACT: This research investigates the importance of the Middle Eastern first lady expand her role not only in private but also in the public sphere. So far, the significance of the Middle Eastern first lady’s role has not been widely studied. Most Middle Eastern women, including the first lady, are normally considered to have minimal roles in society. In contrast to that statement, this study suggests that a region, where the patriarchal culture is particularly strong, the first ladies show significant contributions to the wider community. Queen Rania of Jordan shows that being the spouse of the king in the Middle East does not preclude her potential to contribute. In this paper, the roles of Queen Rania are analysed using a qualitative case study approach. This study proves that a number of Middle Eastern first ladies play their role in society according to opportunities and challenges that occur in their region. In contrast to other Middle Eastern first ladies, Queen Rania has her own char- acteristic of contributing and delivering her ideas in the public sphere. 1 INTRODUCTION This article supports the argument that the first ladies of the Middle East have considerable impact on the community. Paul Kennedy, a British historian, places women’s roles as one of three main elements that help society face the 21st century, besides economy and education.
    [Show full text]
  • The Incredible Life of Queen Rania of Jordan (#20316)​ Author: Alison Millington 1 Journalist, United Kingdom
    Campaign Royal and Famous Couples! The incredible life of Queen Rania of Jordan (#20316)​ Author: Alison Millington 1 Journalist, United Kingdom Beauty Love Family Charity Politics Work 27/06/2019 - 13:01 | Discussion Description: We all know plenty about Britain's royals, with the likes of Kate Middleton and soon-to-be- royal Meghan Markle in the headlines daily. However, there are a number of under-the-radar royals around the world who have considerable influence on the world stage — and on social media. The 47-year-old Queen Rania of Jordan, is known partly for her incredible fashion sense to her four-million strong Instagram following. She comes from a marketing background, having worked for companies like Citibank and Apple. However, since becoming Queen in March 1999, she has also been at the forefront of human rights issues - education, in particular - and she once told TechCrunch uses her influence to "empower people and make them believe that they can be role models and leaders for change." Showing Page 1 out of 3 Her full title is Her Majesty The Queen of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. After attending primary and secondary school in Kuwait, Rania earned a degree in Business Administration from the American University in Cairo, then went into marketing. First she worked at Citibank before landing a job at Apple in Amman, Jordan. <div>It was there that she met her now husband, King Abdullah II of Jordan, at a dinner party in 1993. They got engaged only two months later, and were married in June that year.
    [Show full text]
  • Dsa270.Pdf (‎2.490Mb)
    The Work of WHO in the Eastern Mediterranean Region Annual Report of the Regional Director 1 January–31 December 2004 World Health Organization Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean 1 Cairo 2005 WHO Library Cataloguing in Publication Data WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean The work of WHO in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: annual report of the Regional Director, 1 January–31 December 2004/WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean p. ISBN 97-892-9021-452-6 ISSN 1020-9166 1. Regional Health Planning I. Title [NLM Classification: WA 540] Photographic acknowledgements: Tonia Rifaey, Kaveh Kazemi, Reuters, WHO Representative’s Offices of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Sudan, Regional Office photographic archive The full text of this publication can also be found on www.emro.who.int © World Health Organization 2005 All rights reserved. The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Dotted lines on maps represent approximate border lines for which there may not yet be full agreement. The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by the World Health Organization in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. Errors and omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters.
    [Show full text]
  • Jordan Queen Rania of Jordan: ‘A Mum and Wife with a Really Cool Day Job’
    August 28, 2015 11 News & Analysis Jordan Queen Rania of Jordan: ‘a mum and wife with a really cool day job’ Jordan’s Queen Rania walks to her car following a state celebration in Amman. Jamal J. Halaby That includes meeting with global said. He claims to have been jailed Rania consoled Kasasbeh’s wife leaders to promote education and a few years ago because he dared to and led a street procession in hon- health initiatives for children in the speak out publicly about the queen our of the slain pilot. Amman developing world. “influencing” policy to allow Pales- A few years ago, Rania and Ab- However, she is frequently seen tinians to take senior government dullah fought a battle in Jordan’s broad, Jordan’s Queen embracing women villagers work- posts. conservative parliament to intro- Rania is an eloquent ing in the field in outlying towns, Nonetheless, many Jordanians fo- duce harsher punishments for men spokeswoman for the cuddling cancer-afflicted children, cus on other qualities of the queen. who kill women relatives under the kingdom. She takes the dropping in on schools to inspect “Queen Rania is very impressive,” pretext of cleansing family honour. international podium the quality of education or walking Ica Wahbeh, a managing editor at Men in such killings used to receive toA daringly discuss taboos, such as in the street, like an ordinary citi- the country’s sole English-language a sentence of just six months in jail. honour killings, in her conserva- zen, chatting with people. daily Jordan Times, said. Under the royal-driven amend- tive society.
    [Show full text]
  • Institute for Arab and Muslim World Studies 8
    ANNUAL REPORT 2008 Casa Árabe is a consortium comprising: Casa Árabe 2008 01 Index 8 0 0 2 e b 52.Educational and academic a 04.Letter from the President r 04 52 Á programmes a s a C 0202.Index 0606.Letter from the Director General 5656.Arabic Language Centre 0808.Governing Board in 2008 5858.Sociopolitical Forum 1010.High Board of Trustees 6060.Socioeconomic and Business Programme 1212.Diplomatic Board 1414.Advisory Board 6464.Arabia Americana 1616.Headquarters 6868.Publications 1818.Inauguration of Casa Árabe’s 7272.Casa Árabe’s International headquarters in Madrid Institute of Arab and Muslim World Studies 2222.Casa Árabe’s Tribune 7676.Instrument of public diplomacy 2626.Casa Árabe’s Bookstand, books and words 80.Press and communications 80office 3232.Viewpoints 8484.Dynamics of institutional 3636.Voices collaboration 4242.Exhibitions 8686.List of activities 4848.Festival of Ramadan Nights 9494.Casa Árabe’s team 02 Casa Árabe 2008 03 Letter from the President 8 0 0 2 e b a r Á a s a C 0404.Letter from the President Hispano-Arab relations have strengthened substantially in the last five years, helped by the creation and consolidation of Casa Árabe. The Government’s foreign policy and interna- tional action have enabled traditional relations with the Arab-Muslim world to be modernised and relaunched. The relationship now has a multidimensional focus that encompasses not only traditional politico-diplomatic channels but also social, economic, cultural, scientific and technological relations. Public diplomacy and popular action form part of the exchange of knowledge and experiences to our mutual benefit, enabling old clichés to be overcome.
    [Show full text]
  • Gloria Ladson-Billings, University of Wisconsin
    Volume 13, No. 1 September 2007 InsideThe source for news and events at Teachers College, Columbia University Inside Inside The Provost’s Angle Launching A New Column By Tom James .....2 A Hidden Treasure: TC’s Pool ..........3 The Levees Visitors from Jordan ............................7 A Student Entrepreneur ................. 20 A debut event for a new civic Now Serving curriculum sounds a call to action in the wake of Hurricane Katrina NYC: TC’s Zankel here is a culture in this country in which we don’t take responsibility Fellows for anything. If we’re among the privileged, if our wealth was passed on $10,000 scholarships help from family to family, we live in our own little society, and we make “T students help the City everything else disappear. You compare that with the Netherlands, where they still talk about the mong President Susan flood of 1953, about how they all came together and Fuhrman’s priorities for TC, how it’ll never happen again—how they rebuilt for A two top the list: stepping the next 10,000 years. And the only saving grace up the College’s already strong so far in New Orleans is that the Dutch have been commitment to urban teaching and willing to come talk to us.” service, and boosting financial aid. Those sentiments, uttered by New Orleans The two are clearly linked, as financial City Councilwoman Cynthia Hedge-Morrell, cap- burdens can force students—either tured the spirit of the launch event held in early during or after their time at TC—to September for “Teaching The Levees: A Curriculum seek the kinds of higher-paying jobs for Democratic Dialogue and Civic Engagement,” NOT MINCING WORDS Gloria that aren’t typically found in the a 100-page teaching tool developed by TC faculty, Ladson-Billings of the University city’s neediest areas.
    [Show full text]
  • Brown Meets Pope in the Vatican Page 1 of 2
    BBC NEWS | Politics | Brown meets Pope in the Vatican Page 1 of 2 Brown meets Pope in the Vatican Chancellor Gordon Brown has met Pope Benedict XVI in Rome, while promoting a scheme to provide life-saving vaccines to children in the developing world. Finance ministers involved in the £750m fund to boost research met the Pope in a private meeting at the Vatican. Mr Brown gave the Pope a book of sermons by his father, a Church of Scotland minister. He also repeated an invitation given by Tony Blair, who met the Pope last year, to visit the UK. The Pope urged Mr Brown, along with finance ministers from Italy, Canada, Norway and Ghana, World Bank chief Paul Wolfowitz and Queen Rania of Jordan, to tackle world poverty and the growing divide between rich and poor. Prodi talks Later Mr Brown, who is widely expected to succeed Mr Blair as prime minister later this year, will hold talks with Italian prime minister Romano Prodi at his official residence, the Palazzo Chiggi. The chancellor is in Rome to launch a £750m fund to encourage drug companies to develop vaccines for pneumococcal disease, which kills 1.6 million people - including one million children under five - each year. The fund, set up with Italy, Norway and Canada, aims to encourage drug companies to develop drugs needed in the developing world. “ We can...ensure that the many will not be denied the medical advances available to the few ” Gordon Brown It is the first example of an Advanced Market Commitment (AMC) - a new financial instrument designed to boost the development of vaccines in the developing world.
    [Show full text]
  • Interfaith Youth Core International Work Summary
    Interfaith Youth Core International Work Summary Executive Summary In the past ten years, Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) trained thousands of people in the framework, knowledge, and skill set required to transform religious diversity or religious tension into active interfaith cooperation. IFYC has had a presence on six continents, including running programs in Australia, India, Qatar, and across Western Europe. IFYC’s international experience includes broad networking and consultation, large public talks, intensive skill-based trainings with young people, and intensive leadership exchanges empowering youth to collaborate on local interfaith initiatives. Additionally, IFYC has worked in cooperation with U.S. Embassies around the world to provide trainings and intensive interfaith leadership experiences to young people, targeting those in marginalized religious communities. The organization’s work has had immediate and long-term impact. In 2009, IFYC organized and implemented its first year-long international initiative - Youth Interfaith Leadership Program in New Delhi, India. IFYC introduced a cohort of NGO leaders to the idea of interfaith cooperation as a means of building a robust civil society, and trained them to create and advance interfaith cooperation in their local communities. Additionally, IFYC organized a training institute that brought together 60 young leaders, youth service organizations, and interfaith groups to mobilize youth service projects in Delhi. In Western Europe, IFYC created a network of practitioners who share best practices and collaborate on programs that advance interfaith cooperation through service. Its mini-grant programs have catalyzed interfaith initiatives in the UK, India, Belgium and the Netherlands. In the UK, IFYC’s programs sparked the creation of an “IFYC UK Exchange Program Alumni Network”, in which participants are collaborating on interfaith projects summer and fall 2009.
    [Show full text]
  • Remarks Following a Meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan and an Exchange with Reporters April 21, 2009
    Administration of Barack Obama, 2009 / Apr. 21 Remarks Following a Meeting With King Abdullah II of Jordan and an Exchange With Reporters April 21, 2009 President Obama. Hello, everybody. Take cently, and I believe it was a meeting of the your time, guys. We’re going to answer a few minds. We are both committed to bringing questions. peace and stability to our part of the world. The First of all, I just want to welcome His Maj- President again reaffirming the need for a two- esty King Abdullah to the White House. This is state solution and to move both parties to good a first visit by a leader of an Arab state. In part, negotiations as quickly as possible. He has the it’s reciprocity for the extraordinary hospitality full support of my country and the Arab League that the King and Queen showed me when I on this issue. We believe that it is important for visited Jordan prior to the election, in which the all of us to keep our eyes on the prize, and the King personally drove me to the airport. And I prize is peace and stability, finally, for all the won’t tell you how fast he was going. [Laughter] people of our region. But more importantly, it’s representative of I’d also like to extend a warm thanks on be- his excellent leadership internationally as well half of many Arabs and Muslims that have really as a unmatched friendship with the United had an outstanding response to the President’s States on a whole range of issues.
    [Show full text]