Speech at Banquet given by King Hussein

King HusseinYour Majesty, Your Royal Highnesses, Prime Minister, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a great happiness and fulfills a long-standing ambition for me to be in Amman at last as your guest.

One of the privileges of a British Prime Minister—indeed, one of the greatest of them—is the opportunity to work closely with Your Majesty. I have very much valued our collaboration—and I hope I am not presumptuous in saying friendship—over more than six years now. Over that period, I have learned a great deal, not only about the problems of the Middle East, but about the human qualities—above all, courage and clearsightedness which have earned Your Majesty respect and admiration worldwide. Respect and admiration, not just as a defender of Jordan's independence, although that you have done with outstanding success, making your country an oasis of calm among many troubles, not just as a spokesman for the highest values of Arab civilisation, though that too has been Your Majesty's role, but as a lesson to the world of the indomitable spirit of the Arab people and their wish to live in peace, in freedom and with justice.

In your own speech to the Palestinian National Council last year, you said: “The justification of the existence of a ruler or leader rests on the fulfilment of his responsibilities [end p1] with wisdom and courage, with vigour and sincerity.” You, Sir, are the example of the truth of that saying.

It is indeed a privilege and a pleasure to be in Amman as the first British Prime Minister in office to visit Jordan, and I thank Your Majesty and the people of Jordan for the warm reception which you have given us.

A former British Ambassador described a posting in Amman as “the nearest one is ever likely to get in life to having one's cake and eating it” . I already see why Mr. Coles was so keen to come here!

Your Majesty, the links between Britain and Jordan are very special. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and I am reminded of the unity of purpose which the peoples of Jordan and Britain shared in those bleak times, and of the lead which your late grandfather, King Abdullah, of respected memory—and I pay tribute to him—took in confronting a common threat. We want to strengthen those links in the years ahead. Visits are very important in this. We always look forward eagerly to Your Majesty's arrival in London and were particularly honoured this year that you were present to take the salute at the Royal Tournament in which your armed forces performed with such distinction.

Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness Prince Philip paid an extremely happy and successful state visit to Jordan as your guests last year and their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales have told me how touched they were by the warmth of your hospitality this Spring. [end p2]

During my own time here—alas too short!—I look forward to seeing some of the British companies whose presence here is an earnest of our wish to play a part in Jordan's economic development, to the benefit of both of us. I believe that there is scope to extend that cooperation still further. I also look forward, in particular, to visiting units of your armed forces whose international reputation stands so high and with whom Britain enjoys close links.

But it is inevitable that much of our time should be devoted to discussion of wider Middle East problems and in particular to the further initiative which Your Majesty took last February. You told me then, I recall, that 1985 represents a special opportunity for peace, which must be grasped. I share that belief, but we are now little more than three months from the end of the year. We in Britain are ready, and I hope others will be ready, to use that very short period to create the right circumstances for peaceful negotiations.

We need a climate of greater confidence, so that all parties will be prepared to take some risks for peace. Peace will not come through violence and terrorism. Peace cannot come if the people in the occupied territories are denied the possibility of living under a system of government in which they can have confidence. It will not come either if any of the parties feel so threatened by actions and statements of others that it has to give priority to defence over the step into the unknown which peace would represent.

You, Your Majesty, have worked to change attitudes and you have had striking success. Your Majesty, neither you nor we [end p3] are interested in palliatives for the Arab-Israel conflict. We are committed to a lasting and comprehensive solution achieved through peaceful negotiation; a settlement which will be lasting because it is fair; and just, because it deals with all the outstanding issues; a settlement which takes into account the legitimate rights of all the peoples and states in the area, including of course the Palestinian people; a settlement which commands overwhelming acceptance, because it is freely and directly negotiated by trusted representatives of all those involved.

That is the goal which has eluded us for too long, but no-one has shown greater determination nor worked harder than you, Sir, to see it realised. Your efforts, Jordan's efforts, have our support and encouragement.

It is to the success of those efforts, as well as to Your Majesty's health, and to the happiness and prosperity of the people of Jordan, that I should like to propose a toast—the health of Your Majesty. His Majesty! (applause)