Home || Permalink || About UNISPAL

English printer-friendly (pdf) ||Arabic||Chinese||Français||Русский||Español||



Follow us on: Twitter RSS

UNITED
NATIONS
A
      General Assembly
Distr.
GENERAL
A/ES-10/PV.11
8 February 1999
Official Records
Tenth Emergency Special Session
11th plenary meeting
Monday, 8 February 1999, 3.30 p.m.
New York


President: Mr. Opertti (Uruguay)

The meeting was called to order at 3.40 p.m.


Tribute to the Memory of His Majesty King Hussein Ibn Talal of
the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan


The President (interpretation from Spanish): Yesterday the world was shaken by the wrenching news of the death of one of the great public figures of this century, His Majesty King Hussein Ibn Talal of Jordan. The President of the General Assembly shares the grief of his family and his people, whom he served with the lucidity, far-sightedness, selflessness and distinction of great leaders.

The Arab nation and the entire world have lost a figure of exceptional virtues. His wisdom, courage and generosity of spirit enabled him to make an extraordinary contribution to his country and to the cause of peace in the turbulent region in which it was his lot to be born, to live and to reign. From the time of his accession to the throne, he dedicated himself with such fevour and devotion to this cause that he himself came to be viewed as a symbol of the unending search for peace.

During his reign of more than 40 years, King Hussein was an inspiring and guiding spirit for the forces that were striving for security and stability in his region, as well as in the rest of the world. As a direct descendant of the Prophet Mohammed, of the forty-second generation, the King was admired as an ardent defender of the faith and for the important role that he played in the unification and consolidation of the modern Jordanian State.

The international community and we ourselves will greatly miss his intelligence and his tireless efforts as a statesman, diplomat, conciliator and mediator, ceaselessly applying his roles and focusing his abilities to achieve the goal of establishing peace. His legacy and his example will always be a touchstone for those who are struggling to realize the ideals and purposes of the United Nations. His spiritual presence will certainly remain with us, in particular with those of us who have benefited from his vitality. His memory will also inspire future generations and, above all, serve as an example to the peoples and Governments of the Middle East so that they will persevere and not turn off of the difficult path leading to the attainment of lasting peace for all.

The presidency of the General Assembly expresses its deepest solidarity to the people and the Government of Jordan in connection with such a grievous loss.

In accordance with the arrangements that have been made prior to this session, I will give the floor to the Chairman of each of the regional groups, to the representative of the host country and to the representative of Jordan. However, I must observe that a number of delegations, because of this special situation, have expressed the wish to speak at this meeting. With the presidency's customary respect for every State's right to voice its views, and bearing in mind the special circumstances underlying their requests for the floor, the presidency, with the consent and understanding of this body, will also be giving the floor to the following delegations: Israel, Egypt, the Russian Federation and Palestine.

Before giving the floor to the various speakers, I invite all representatives to stand and observe a minute of silence in tribute to the memory of His Majesty King Hussein of Jordan.

The members of the General Assembly observed a minute of silence.

The President (interpretation from Spanish): I give the floor to the representative of Togo, who will speak on behalf of the Group of African States.

Mr. Kpotsra (Togo) (interpretation from French): Although the long illness of King Hussein of Jordan and his sudden return to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota had prepared us for the worst, his passing caused shock and consternation throughout the world.

Indeed, how could it be otherwise in view of the decisive and commendable role he played in the Middle East in general and in building the Jordanian nation in particular, despite the successive upheavals that shook that region.

A dedicated architect of peace, King Hussein distinguished himself throughout almost five decades by his pan-Arabism and his talent for promoting dialogue and cooperation despite an often less-than-conducive environment. In this respect, we will long remember the important turnaround he effected in his country in 1994 as well as the positive contribution he made recently to the Wye River negotiations.

History will remember him not only for his courage and his persistence in the face of difficulties but also because of his extraordinary spirit of tolerance, as symbolized by the image of a monarch kneeling before the families of Jewish children who were victims of a 1997 terrorist attack.

On behalf of the Group of African States, I wish to express to the Hashemite royal family and to the Government and the valiant people of Jordan our deepest condolences and our full solidarity with them at this time of intense grief.

May the work done by King Hussein live on, and may the spirit of forgiveness and tolerance that he always embodied inspire all those who are active in international relations.

Finally, may today's communion on the occasion of his funeral help to advance the Middle East peace process.

The President (interpretation from Spanish): I give the floor to the representative of the Philippines, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Asian States.

Mr. Mabilangan (Philippines): Today we mourn the loss of a great yet humble man, a man born of royalty whose nobility sprang more from his love and respect of his fellow man and his total dedication to the cause of peace, a great leader who refused to follow the seeming dictates of history, and a man who was, first and foremost, for his people and for peace.

On behalf of the Group of Asian States, I should like to convey to the family of King Hussein and to the leadership and people of Jordan our deepest sympathies and our profound and immeasurable sense of loss at the death of one of the greatest advocates of peace we have ever known, His Majesty King Hussein of Jordan.

We all have lost a great leader and an extraordinary man. His death has left a deep void in our hearts. As we mourn his loss, we would like to express our respect and admiration for King Hussein, whose political life, which was almost as lengthy as that of our Organization, was filled with challenges and dangers that were overcome, each and every one of which inspired us all.

He went past hatred and intolerance. He ignored the threat of death and, most recently, overcame his own pain, all for the cause of peace. Even at the most trying times and under the most difficult of circumstances, he gave all of us hope. At critical points in the Middle East peace process, he renewed our own faith in an abiding peace.

We found strength and courage in his resolve. His sacrifices were great, his dedication absolute. He moved all of us as no other could; he sacrificed as few others would.

He was a wise king who truly loved his people and who worked to bring not only peace but also progress to his country. He was king, but he was always one with his people. The people of Jordan are rightly proud of their king, and we share in their sorrow and loss.

We would like to join the rest of the world in wishing all the best to and in expressing our strong support for King Abdullah as he assumes the mantle of leadership of the people of Jordan. We would like also to offer our full support for King Abdullah as he takes on the challenges of pursuing peace in the Middle East, a task laden with challenges and difficulties. But his father built a strong foundation for Jordan's leadership in this process, and we are confident that King Abdullah will build on and even strengthen this foundation.

On our own part, finding inspiration in the life and work of King Hussein, we in the Asian Group here in the United Nations pledge to continue to do our utmost to help move the peace process forward towards a just, meaningful and lasting resolution.

King Hussein was a key force in the Middle East peace process. Through his efforts, he made peace less elusive and closer to reality. And when, and not if, that peace comes, it shall shine brightly and resonate with the wisdom, courage, dedication and sacrifices of men like King Hussein. His legacy of peace will live forever.

The President (interpretation from Spanish): I give the floor to the representative of Slovenia, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Eastern European States.

Mr. Türk (Slovenia): Today the entire world is joining the people of Jordan in their grief. The passing of His Majesty King Hussein of Jordan has left us all with a profound sense of loss and bereavement.

King Hussein was a profoundly wise leader and a truly great personality. He combined the qualities of a visionary, a peacemaker, a responsible leader of his people and a human being of great compassion and common sense.

As a leader of a country in the volatile region of the Middle East, King Hussein demonstrated political skill and responsibility which made Jordan one of the major forces of peace. The Middle East peace process would not have reached its present stage without the constant contribution of King Hussein. In recent years, his role as peacemaker grew constantly. The peace agreement with Israel and, most recently, his contribution to the current efforts to find a settlement to the thorny question of Palestine have ensured his place among the great political leaders and persons of peace of our time.

King Hussein contributed greatly to the cause of the United Nations. His contribution went beyond his role as political leader in the Middle East. As a true statesman, he demonstrated his decisive role as a leader in the development of his country, which has become one of the successful developing countries.

His commitment to humanitarian causes proved his genuine feeling of responsibility for the universal causes of all mankind.

On behalf of the Eastern European Group of States, I wish to pay, at this solemn and sad occasion, tribute to His Majesty King Hussein of Jordan and to express solidarity with the people of Jordan. At this moment of grief, the people of Jordan are not alone. The feelings of solidarity and sympathy of all of us are today with the mourners in Jordan.

The memory of His Majesty King Hussein of Jordan will be an inexhaustible source of inspiration for all those striving for peace and for all of us in the United Nations.

The President (interpretation from Spanish): I call on the representative of Guatemala, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States.

Mr. Rosenthal (Guatemala) (interpretation from Spanish): On behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean Group of States Members of the United Nations, I would like to join this tribute to His Majesty King Hussein Ibn Talal of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

It is noteworthy that King Hussein was cast before the entire world, and therefore also in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, as a charismatic leader, a man of good, an extraordinarily courageous personality, a genuine visionary and an apostle of peace. He stood firm in his principles and convictions, which guided him at all times in all his actions.

In a region shaken by tensions and conflicts, he was able to create stability in his own country. He gave Jordan a singularly important presence in the gathering of nations far beyond what the size of his own nation might have suggested. He provided a level of welfare to his population well beyond what his country's endowment of natural resources might have permitted. He established a permanent rapport with all the citizens of his kingdom, while at the same time maintaining an ongoing dialogue with the most influential men and women of the planet.

It is tragic that the world has lost a person of the stature of King Hussein Ibn Talal, especially given his relative youth. As he pointed out in his memoirs, however, he was never scared of death, characterizing it as of little importance. The sorrow aroused by his passing is reflected not only in the number and status of those who participated in today's funeral rites, but also in the impact His Majesty had on the common citizen, even in our region, so far removed from the Middle East.

We therefore recall His Majesty King Hussein Ibn Talal with fondness, respect and great admiration. In joining this tribute, we also join in the grief that has engulfed his family and his people. In this particular case, their loss truly is a loss for all humanity. We only hope that His Majesty's immense legacy will help to give new impetus to the efforts designed to find, after so many years, a genuine and lasting peace for the part of the world which he inhabited.

The President (interpretation from Spanish): I call on the representative of Canada, who will speak on behalf of the Group of Western European and Other States.

Mr. Fowler (Canada): As Chairman of the Western European and Others Group, it is with deep sorrow and profound admiration that I pay tribute to His Royal Majesty, King Hussein of Jordan. His country has lost a brilliant and charismatic leader. His troubled region is bereft of a vitally important force of reason, measure and stability. His family has lost a father, a husband and a brother whose warmth and grace, strength, wisdom and zest for life were manifest.

To the people of Jordan, to Queen Noor, to King Abdullah and to the rest of the royal family, we can but offer our condolences, our sympathy and our expectation that the Hashemite Kingdom will prevail amid such adversity.

We have all lost a steadfast warrior for peace. On the diplomatic front, King Hussein's impossibly complex calculations were always informed by the long view. His prodigious and comprehensive understanding of his region helped to secure peace for his people and hope for what many still call the Middle East.

In a region where the call to peace does not come easily or without sacrifice, King Hussein's lifelong pursuit was all the more courageous. Through his thoughts, his vision and his actions, he caused the rest of the world to believe that peace in the Middle East was achievable. And through his example, he led the way.

His signing of a peace treaty with Israel and his essential role in the peace agreements between Palestinians and Israelis, even at Wye River as he was battling for his own life, will mark the King as one of the truly heroic leaders of this century.

In the person of King Hussein, the United Nations Charter could have had no stronger champion of its ideals and in his accomplishments the United Nations has no greater evidence that its ideals can triumph over our worst tendencies.

Sadly, the King's work is not complete. But, in a region still unreconciled, it is a tribute that today in Amman the King's death has joined often terse adversaries together in mourning the tragedy of his loss.

King Hussein has left us much upon which to build. We convey our best hopes and wishes to King Abdullah, whom we are confident will govern with the same sureness of purpose and wisdom as did his father. Throughout his reign, King Hussein was tireless in his pursuit of peace. May he now rest in peace.

The President (interpretation from Spanish): I call on the representative of the United Arab Emirates, who will speak on behalf of the Arab States.

Mr. Samhan (United Arab Emirates) (interpretation from Arabic): As Chairman of the Arab Group for this month, it is with a saddened heart, trusting in the rule of Allah, that I convey our condolences and profound grief to the Hashemite family and to the King, people and Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan over the death of King Hussein Ibn Talal. We implore our Lord to cover him with mercy and to let his soul rest in peace and to bestow consolation and patience upon his people and family.

The life of this great leader has been linked with the march of almost half a century of struggle and thought and has been recorded in our contemporary history. He left his clear imprint in the service of just political and humanitarian causes, particularly the question of Palestine and the Middle East, which commanded much of his interest, endeavours and determination. The stages of his life embodied lofty goals and concepts of wisdom, skill, courage, tolerance and peace. His loss is a tremendous one -- not only for the Arab and Islamic nations, but for the whole world. He was more than a great political leader to his nation. He deserved the prestigious status he occupied in the Arab, Islamic and international arenas. There is no disagreement that he is one of the most prominent political leaders of the twentieth century. With his absence at this delicate, sensitive and critical period we have lost a sincere and dedicated leader who devoted his entire life from early youth to establishing the pillars of development, security and peace. His insight on regional and international balances will help to foster just, comprehensive and permanent peace in the Middle East region and throughout the world.

On this occasion, and in the name of the Arab Group, I wish the Jordanian King, Abdullah Bin Hussein, every success in completing the humanitarian march begun by his father. I wish to emphasize that the members of the Arab Group are behind him and his people.

"To the righteous soul will be said: thou soul, in complete rest and satisfaction! Come back thou to thy Lord, well pleased thyself and well-pleasing unto Him! Enter, thou, then, among my Devotees! Yea, enter thou My Heaven!". (The Holy Koran, LXXXIX:27-30)

The President (interpretation from Spanish): I call on the representative of the United States of America, who will speak for the host country.

Mr. Burleigh (United States of America): On behalf of my delegation and the people of the United States, I offer our sincere condolences on the passing of His Majesty King Hussein Ibn Talal, one of the finest and most courageous statesmen of this century. I would also like to offer our deepest personal sympathies to all Jordanians, including King Abdullah, Queen Noor and the entire Hashemite family. No ruler loved his people more.

Let me also offer our firm pledge, in the days to come, to stand by King Abdullah and to remain committed to the people of Jordan in our mutual efforts to bring greater prosperity to Jordan and lasting peace and stability to the Middle East.

The friendship between the United States and Jordan is enduring and deep. King Hussein knew and worked with every American President since Eisenhower and it goes without saying that he won their respect in the process. He believed that we all live our destinies. If that is true, he must have been destined from the outset to be a very skilful leader in an extremely challenging region. But, as President Clinton said, he was far more than that:

King Hussein was a pioneer who knew that it was not enough for Israel and Jordan to sign treaties; more importantly, they had to learn to work together. To that end, he bravely hosted the critical 1995 Amman Economic Summit to encourage Arabs and Israelis to forge a joint economic future.

King Hussein said during the negotiations at Wye River just a few months ago last year that "we have no right to dictate, through irresponsible action or narrow-mindedness, the future of our children and our children's children". We pray that these sentiments will continue to guide us in our search for peace.

King Hussein said recently in a press interview that he wanted to be remembered as someone who tried his best, who was proud of being of the people and for them, who suffered their suffering, who loved and supported them and supported whatever was right, including peace. That is indeed how the whole world will remember King Hussein.

President Clinton recalled how the King came into the Wye discussions when they were faltering and said how within a few short minutes he changed the tenor of the meeting. Though frail with fighting for his own life, he gave his life to the process many felt was failing. President Clinton concluded that the man with the least time remaining reminded us that we are working not only for ourselves but for all eternity.

We pray for the new King, Abdullah. We pray also for the people of Jordan, and to them we continue to extend a hand of friendship and partnership. We must work all the harder now to accomplish King Hussein's twin goals of peace and prosperity for all those who remain committed to peace.

The President (interpretation from Spanish): I call on the representative of Israel.

Mr. Gold (Israel): The entire people of Israel share with the people of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan the deepest sense of loss over the passing of His Majesty King Hussein Ibn Talal. In Israel flags have been lowered to half-staff throughout the country. It is appropriate that King Hussein has brought a rare moment of unity to the Middle East region. From the tip of the Arabian peninsula to Turkey and across North Africa peoples are bonded by a common grief and the knowledge that a courageous visionary of peace is gone.

The word "honourable" -- sharif-- comes to mind when thinking about King Hussein. This was not only a matter of noble lineage, but also of personal example by which King Hussein moulded his nation and affected the countries around him, touching all the peoples of the region. He believed that peace meant unqualified reconciliation. He believed that peace meant a total repudiation of violence. He was living proof that direct contact between peoples can bridge civilizations and ultimately give birth to peace. He demonstrated how trust between leaders can become trust between nations as a whole. Finally King Hussein believed that peace was not a momentary manoeuvre but a sacred trust to be protected for generations to come. As such he not only offered a lesson for Arabs and Israelis, but for the entire world as a whole.

As a past envoy of the Government of Israel to King Hussein, I personally witnessed his empathy and compassion for others. On a personal level I profoundly feel his loss.

The Middle East is known for great monuments and memorials, for palaces and pantheons built by kings and national leaders. King Hussein has built the most important monument of all, the monument of Middle East peace. I can say that the Government of Israel is determined to do everything possible to protect this legacy for our region.

All of Israel extends its condolences to Her Majesty Queen Noor, His Majesty King Abdullah, the Hashemite royal family and the Jordanian people. Our solidarity and partnership, which was fashioned under the late King Hussein, will continue for generations to come.

Mr. Elaraby (Egypt) (interpretation from Arabic): Fraternal Jordan, the Arab world and the Islamic world lost an important pillar of stability and peace in the Middle East. With the death of His Majesty King Hussein Ibn Talal the world has lost an enlightened, prominent, wise and courageous leader, a leader who dedicated his life to working to achieve a just peace in the Middle East as well as to the welfare and prosperity of his Jordanian people and of the peoples of the Arab world, an historic leader who firmly believed in the principles of humanity, justice and peace, a leader who sacrificed everything for these lofty principles. With his death we all have lost a monarch and a leader who left to his country and his nation an immense reservoir of accomplishments, accomplishments that history will indubitably remember with appreciation and gratitude.

On this sad occasion, I wish on behalf of Egypt -- Government and people -- to extend to His Majesty King Abdullah, the Hashemite family and the fraternal people of Jordan our deepest condolences on the passing of this great monarch, whose death represents a tremendous loss for Jordan and for the entire Arab world.

We supplicate Almighty God to encompass the late King with His Grace.

Mr. Lavrov (Russian Federation) (interpretation from Russian): The Russian Federation greatly laments the passing of His Majesty King Hussein Ibn Talal of Jordan. We share with His Majesty King Abdullah, with the family and friends of the late King and with the people of Jordan their sadness at their loss. We express our solidarity with and support for them. The President of the Russian Federation, Boris Yeltsin, has gone to Amman in order to express in person his most heartfelt condolences to the Jordanian people.

The world has lost a wise, perspicacious State leader, someone who played a unique role not only in Middle Eastern politics but also far beyond the region. Russia will always remember that the King himself was at the source of the friendly relations between our two countries.

Jordan has entered a time of severe trial, but we know that thanks to the persistent and -- it is not an exaggeration to say -- the titanic efforts of King Hussein, a foundation has been established that will enable Jordan to greet the new millennium with confidence and to be an active and respected member of the international community.

The best tribute to King Hussein would be to establish in the Middle East the firm and just peace which he always sought. As a co-sponsor of the peace process, Russia will spare no effort to attain that goal.

Mr. Al-Kidwa (Palestine) (interpretation from Arabic): It is with great anguish and sorrow that we learned about the passing of His Majesty, the Jordanian monarch, King Hussein Ibn Talal, the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, after a long struggle against disease. On behalf of the people and leadership of Palestine, I would like to convey our heartfelt, most sincere condolences to His Majesty King Abdullah, to Her Royal Highness Queen Noor Al Hussein and to all the princes and princesses of the Hashemite royal lineage, as well as to the Government of Jordan and the fraternal people of Jordan. We supplicate Almighty God to encompass His Majesty into his heavenly kingdom and to grant us calm, consolation and patience.

As we accept this fated event with faith and contentedness, we must praise the exceptional qualities of the late King Hussein, who was a statesman, a leader, a visionary and a noble and courageous servant of his people and of the Arab world, who served the Palestinian cause and gave much thought and effort to helping us. He was plucky and intrepid in peace-making and strengthened peace in the Middle East. Thus he earned the trust, respect and admiration of all those who cherished peace in our region and in the world.

With his departure, in this critical and difficult time of our life, we will miss this clairvoyant and tolerant visionary leader. We are quite sure that under the leadership of King Abdullah, however, our fraternal Jordan will continue to follow in the steps traced by King Hussein.

Our consolation is that his son will undoubtedly remain faithful to the high ideals and principles upheld by his late father, King Hussein Ibn Talal -- principles he espoused and for which he fought for the sake of fraternal Jordan and of the Arab and Muslim worlds. In conclusion, we express our sincere brotherly condolences to all our brothers and sisters in Jordan and ensure them that we will remain their compatriots and on the same path and destiny for the sake of our common noble cause. "To Allah we belong and to Him is our return".

Mr. Abu-Nimah (Jordan) (interpretation from Arabic): Mr. President, it is my honour and privilege to convey to you our gratitude and appreciation for convening this special meeting to pay tribute to a great leader and outstanding man, His Majesty King Hussein Ibn Talal, the late King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, who passed away yesterday morning, on 7 February 1999, after 47 years of tireless work dedicated to ruling the country in the midst of turbulent circumstances. We all know the dangers that were involved in overcoming all those challenges.

There are no words to express the deep sorrow and pain of the Hashemite family and of every Jordanian in the face of the enormous and tragic loss represented by the death of our beloved King Hussein Ibn Talal. His Majesty King Hussein was not only a king and a leader but also a father to every one of his people, to which he always referred as the larger Jordanian family of all origins and ancestry. No words could accurately describe the sentiments of Jordanians in the face of this very painful loss.

However, we are inspired by our faith in God and by the last television interview given by His Majesty, in which he said that every life has a beginning and an end. Our faith and the sentiments expressed at this meeting by our colleagues the chairmen of the regional groups, as well as the outpouring of sympathy we received here and in Jordan, give us solace in bearing the impact of this tragedy.

We also take pride in the great legacy of the late King. His lofty achievements, registered under extremely challenging and difficult circumstances and clear testimony of his contribution to the historic record, will help us turn our sorrow into a positive impetus to pursue the course he charted.

Indeed, we have a long way to go before we achieve the noble goal set for our country by His Majesty: to establish a secure, stable future in which peace prevails throughout our region. This requires that we play a vital and serious role in achieving that peace.

His Majesty's sudden death leaves a great void in our region and in the whole world. His leadership was outstanding in all areas, especially in that of pursuing and building peace, and some have expressed deep concern in this respect. This is understandable, as the loss is enormous. But I should like to recall that His Majesty built a modern Jordan and created institutions that are capable of sustaining and continuing the progress achieved. His legacy of clear guidelines, strong values and firm policies represents a solid foundation for further advances.

Under the new leadership of the young King -- His Majesty King Abdullah Ibn Hussein, who assumed his constitutional powers yesterday after taking the oath of office before Parliament -- Jordan will continue to play its role, carry out its policies and respect its international and legal commitments exactly as was done during the reign of King Hussein. Peace and the pursuit of peace will remain our primary strategic option, as defined by King Hussein and as stated by His Majesty King Abdullah in his first announcement two days ago.

We all saw King Hussein's dedication to the cause of peace. This was clearest when we saw him leave his hospital sickbed to go to Wye River Plantation and work tirelessly with other leaders to reach an agreement. Following the signature of the agreement at Wye River, and looking exhausted, he stated: "If I had one iota of power left, I would use it for the cause of peace."

Under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah Ibn Hussein, Jordan will continue to follow in the footsteps of King Hussein. Indeed, the young King learned from his fathers unique experiences the skills needed for leadership and government. Under the rule of the young King, who has outstanding abilities, wide experience and full knowledge of our concerns, we will continue to build the country's domestic structure, to protect and promote our democratic institutions, to modernize our policies in all areas and to safeguard the great achievements registered by King Hussein. We will maintain our national unity, rally around the great Hashemite throne, promote socio-economic growth and fight underdevelopment in order to prepare Jordan to overcome its difficulties and enter the twenty-first century with confidence and in a spirit of development and progress.

We in Jordan will also continue the regional and international efforts we have deployed for decades under the leadership of King Hussein. In a spirit of responsibility and openness, we will channel all of our energies into supporting the peace process in order to achieve our goals: a lasting and comprehensive peace throughout our region that will enable all of its peoples, and future generations, to enjoy peace and stability. We will follow that by contributing to an ambitious development plan that will reach every part of our region, lift it out of backwardness and help it catch up to the modern world.

While we are resolved to pursuing the future with faith and confidence under Hashemite leadership, we draw courage from the noble expressions of condolence and feelings of support that have been conveyed to us by all leaders and countries of the world. I cannot find the appropriate words to describe the appreciation of the people of Jordan for all these expressions of support, which will help us to overcome the imminent difficulties and changes and to face the future with confidence, resolve and a firm will.

I wish once again to convey to you, Sir, to your colleagues, the members of this Assembly, and through them to their friendly countries the deep thanks of the people and Government of Jordan for their sincere sentiments, words of support and moving participation in these difficult times. I would close by expressing our thanks to you, Sir, for the kind words on the qualities of the late King Hussein which you spoke at the beginning of this meeting and which touched us deeply. I also convey the thanks of Jordan and its steadfast people to the Chairmen of the African, Arab, Asian, Eastern European, Western European and Others, and Latin American and the Caribbean groups, the representative of the host country and other representatives who have spoken for their sentiments of friendship for and admiration of King Hussein.

The meeting rose at 4.45 p.m.