[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 157 (Tuesday, November 9, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14433-S14434]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       ADDRESS BY KING ABDULLAH OF JORDAN AT THE KENNEDY LIBRARY

 Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, on October 14, the John F. Kennedy 
Presidential Library in Boston hosted a dinner in honor of King 
Abdullah II of Jordan.
  In his remarks, King Abdullah spoke eloquently of the strong ties 
between the United States and Jordan, his vision for strengthening 
peace in the Middle East, and his hope of creating new opportunities 
for future generations in Jordan.
  Like his father, King Hussein, King Abdullah cares deeply about the 
Jordanian people and stability in the region, and his comments are very 
inspiring. I believe that all of us who care about the future of the 
Middle East

[[Page S14434]]

will be interested in his remarks, and I ask that they be printed in 
the Record.
  The remarks follow:

   Speech by His Majesty King Abdullah II at the Kennedy Library in 
                   Boston, Thursday, October 14, 1999

       Senator Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy, Mr. Manning, Ladies and 
     gentlemen, allow me first to express my sincere gratitude for 
     this beautiful evening which Rania and I shall cherish for 
     the rest of our lives.
       Senator, I would like to add my voice to all those who have 
     paid tribute, over the years, to the Kennedy family, for the 
     contribution that they have made to the improvement of human 
     life and for the painful sacrifices that have made us all 
     realize the value of true citizenship.
       I say that Senator, because I also happen to belong to a 
     family that has devoted itself since the turn of this century 
     to the improvement of the life of the Arab people. Over the 
     years, many sacrifices have been made to ensure that the 
     freedom, liberty, and integrity of the Arab mind is 
     sacrosanct, that the rights of the Arabs are not forgotten or 
     betrayed and that their future is protected.
       As I conclude my second working visit to the United States, 
     I am very proud of the special relations that bind Jordan 
     with your country. The foundations of these ties, so 
     carefully laid by my late father have seen us making peace 
     with our Israeli neighbors, and subsequently guarding its 
     sustainability and continuity. Through our partnership with 
     America, we have built a unique model in our region. It is a 
     model of peace that is cemented by the respect of the 
     principles of democracy, freedom of expression, political 
     pluralism, free economic enterprise, and human dignity. It is 
     being continually reinforced through our positive interaction 
     with our neighbors.
       Most importantly, it is the necessary requirement for 
     successfully facing the challenges ahead which are numerous 
     and quite complex. In my mind, the most daunting task that I 
     have set myself to accomplish is to guarantee that our 
     younger generation get an equal opportunity like others 
     elsewhere in the world: An opportunity to be active 
     participants in the shaping of their own destiny, one that 
     will hopefully focus on technological advances in science, on 
     being a part of the information technology revolution, and on 
     being able to enjoy the best of education, medical care, and 
     environmental standards.
       These are big challenges that necessitate, first and 
     foremost, that we rid ourselves of the dark past of war, 
     conflict, and strife in our region, prior to getting ready to 
     embark on a future course of promise, rewards, and 
     accomplishments.
       These challenges require more than ever that the 
     partnership with the United States be solid, strong, and 
     sustainable. The role that the United States has played in 
     the making of peace in our region must be complemented with 
     continued efforts designed to rehabilitate our region. If it 
     is to effectively participate in the community of nations, 
     not through conflict, but rather through a concrete 
     realization of a new positive role.
       All of you present here tonight can contribute to the 
     making of a new region. We in Jordan will continue to provide 
     the model, but we need your support and contribution.
       I do not want to keep you any longer; suffice it to say 
     that I am very grateful to all of you for your interest, your 
     support, and your determination to help us attain a dream 
     that befits the dawn of a new millennium.
       Thank you again, and we hope to see you in the near future 
     in our part of the world.

                          ____________________