His Majesty Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein, King of Jordan, addresses MEPs during a formal sitting in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Strasbourg

speech

formal sitting

EU - Jordan (T)

ABDULLAH II (JO)

Address by His Majesty King Abdullah II, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan: extracts

Arrival of His Majesty King Abdullah II, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in the Chamber

SOUNDBITE (English), ABDULLAH II, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, If we falter. The most vulnerable pay, the highest price. The young men and women who look to their future and see nothing. Bewildered refugee mothers clutching their children with no place to call home or anxious fathers who cannot find jobs to provide for their loved ones.

SOUNDBITE (English), ABDULLAH II, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Millions across the world have poured onto the streets, marched occupied, sat down, sat in, tweeted podcasts, hashtag what they want. Loud and clear. And they all want the same thing. A fair chance, a fighting chance.

SOUNDBITE (English), ABDULLAH II, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, What if the world gives up on a two state solution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? 70 plus years of conflict have played havoc. With hopes for justice. Today, one-staters are actively seeking to impose an unthinkable solution on the region and the world. One state propped up by structural inequalities with Palestinians as second class subjects. One state turning its back on its neighborhood, perpetuating divisions among peoples and face worldwide.

SOUNDBITE (English), ABDULLAH II, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, My father, the late King Hussein, taught me that. Peacemaking is always the harder. But the higher path. And a tough road is best walked with our friends. Friends like you and the people of Europe. So that together we can reach the future that both our peoples aspire for and that they and our whole world deserve. Thank you very much.

SOUNDBITE (English), ABDULLAH II, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Now fast forward to the most recent standoff between the United States and Iran. What if next time neither side steps away from the brink, dragging us all towards untold chaos?

SOUNDBITE (English), ABDULLAH II, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, What if Iraq fails to realize the potential and aspirations of its people? And slips back into an erratic 17 year cycle of recovery and relapse or worse yet, conflict.

SOUNDBITE (English), ABDULLAH II, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,  Now, what if Syria remains hostage to global rivalries and spirals back into civil conflict? What if we see a reemergence of ISIS and Syria becomes a staging ground for attacks against the rest of the world?

SOUNDBITE (English), ABDULLAH II, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, What if Libya collapses into an all out war? And ultimately a failed state. What if Libya is the new Syria? Just much closer to the continent you all call home.

SOUNDBITE (English), ABDULLAH II, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, What if Arab governments fail to create the more than 60 million jobs our youth will need in the coming decade? And if we fail, wouldn't we, in fact, be creating a perfect setting for extremist groups?

SOUNDBITE (English), ABDULLAH II, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, More than ever, we need patient politics because we all have a responsibility to safeguard our people's long term interests and welfare. To react to rapidly unfolding events. With measured responses, not knee jerk reactions.