BRUSSELS (WJC)–Jordanian King Abdullah has stressed the need for inter-faith dialogue in order to build bridges of tolerance and understanding between different cultures. In a speech to leaders of the European People’s Party in Brussels, attended by 20 European presidents and prime ministers as well as the heads of EU institutions, Abdullah emphasized the need for joint efforts to spread the values of peace and tolerance.
“I also look forward to cooperating with the EU to promote this initiative, by sponsoring activities that recognize countries which take part in it,” the Jordanian king said. At the conclusion of the session, the EPP, which consists of 72 parties from 39 European countries and forms the largest bloc in the European Parliament, adopted a statement to encourage inter-faith dialogue.
King Abdullah also referred to the Middle East conflict. “For Palestinians, it is a secure future, in an independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian state on their own national soil. For Israelis, it is the real security that acceptance and normal relations bring, not just with immediate neighbors, but with 57 Arab and Muslim countries, one-third of the United Nations. For the Middle East, it is the security of a region at peace, able to devote resources to development and progress, and for the global community, it is the security of a global alliance for moderation and justice,” he declared.
The Hashemite king praised Europe’s role in supporting negotiations and helping Palestinians build their institutions, calling for a new activity to address the rapid changes. “If negotiations do not succeed, the two-state solution, the only solution that can work, might not be possible,” he warned. “If that hope is killed, we can anticipate much more vicious warfare. Europe, the US and other countries have already been dragged into regional conflicts. New catastrophic scenarios would only drag the world in deeper.”
In Brussels, Abdullah also met with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton and stressed that the two-state solution was perceived by the international community as the only path to bringing about peace and stability in the region. He underscored the need to launch serious and effective talks between the Palestinians and Israelis according to clear terms of reference to arrive at the two-state formula and warned that continuing to adopt the current approach to crisis management would maintain the status quo, bringing about more tensions and violence.
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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress