“He has a good idea of his mission,” noted Bill Clinton of the new King of Jordan Abdallah. So what is the mission?
One should remark that King Hussein had been a key figure of the peaceful process in the Middle East. Moreover, he was an important partner of both the USA and Israel in this region. It is interesting that not only President Clinton but his predecessors: George Bush, Jimmy Carter and Jerald Ford attended the funerals.
King Hussein has gone and western leaders hurried to express their support to the just-appointed leader. Thus, Tony Blair talked about new ways to provide assistance to Jordan including economic and military ones. Bill Clinton expressed his confidence in Abdallah and backed it up with a revision of terms for Jordan’s debt repayment.
At the same time, it is not only western countries which are interested in Jordan. In spite of the bad state of his health, Boris Yeltsin personally went to the burial ceremony and had a talk with King Abdallah. Aside from them, the President of Syria Hafes Al-Asad, whose relations with King Hussein were far from the best, visited Amman as well. The visit of the Syrian leader, who also met the King, was regarded as a new stage in the relations between the two states. Is it in reality, or does it simply correlated with the mission? King Hussein had been reigning the country for many years, which is an indisputable accomplishment in such troublesome region. Hussein long reign could be attributed to both his diplomatic capabilities and, as many experts point out, to a skill of change friends at an opportune time. Will Abdallh replace his father with dignity? Having a brilliant military background and being a major-general, Abdallah can rely upon sound support within the army, but at the same time does not have any skills in international relations and economic issues. Such abilities are quite important in the region, especially against the background of NATO- Iraq opposition.
Despite all his merits, the former King could not make his country prosperous. About one fifth of Jordan population is unemployed and 30% live under the brink of poverty. We should remember that in 1996, the southern part of the country experienced a people’s mutiny caused by increased prices for bread. In these conditions, Abdollah is financially dependent upon western countries and rich neighbours.
One should note that Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, being the most powerful countries in the Persian Gulf and the USA’s allies, announced that they would stay side by side with all their potential and means. In this connection one should remember that they drastically shortened their assistance to this small Middle East country, when Jordan refused to enter a coalition against regime of Saddam Hussein in 1990.
Where will the new King lead his country?
Abdallah has already announced his adherence to his father’s political line.
Being a half-blooded Britain and having acquired his education in the West, King Abdallah will hardly shift to the anti-west positions. Without any contrary experience, Abdullah will probably rely on both western powers and his loyal army.
Translation provided by Insel company M.K