Underlining the “enormous” opportunities for sustainable
development and investment in the Middle East, UN Secretary-General
António Guterres has reaffirmed the Organization’s deep engagement
in a “surge of diplomacy for peace,” to “untie the Gordian knot of
conflict and instability.”
The UN chief’s comments were made on Saturday, during the World
Economic Forum (WEF) meeting on the Middle East and North Africa,
held by the Dead Sea in Jordan on April 05 and 06. As an example
of the regional conflicts that, he said, must be resolved, Mr.
Guterres cited the implementation of a two-state solution for
Israel and Palestine, “living side by side in peace with secure
and recognized borders, and with Jerusalem as capital of the two
countries.”
The Secretary-General, who has been visiting several Middle
Eastern states, said that he was able to report positive progress
in certain cases, such as the first free municipal elections in
Tunisia, where “the democratic transition continues to advance”;
his discussions with the Grand Imam of Al-Alzhar Mosque in Egypt,
with whom he discussed ways to advance tolerance and mutual
respect; and the development of UN plans to combat hate speech,
and safeguard religious sites worldwide.
A region of opportunities
Thanking King Abdullah II and Queen Rania Al Abdullah for hosting
the meeting and championing peace, Mr. Guterres described Jordan as
a “fundamental pillar of regional stability,” and a country with
large private-sector opportunities.
With its large youth population, said the UN chief, Jordan – a
“driving force” behind a landmark Security Council resolution
highlighting the importance of including the voices of young
people – is poised to “reap a demographic dividend.”
The Middle East and North Africa, he added, should not only be
looked at as an area of conflict, but also a region of
opportunities which, given the right internal approaches, and
support from the international community, could unleash
“remarkable dynamism and capacity.”
Mr. Guterres noted that several countries in the region have
integrated political demands made by their citizens, such as
social protection, good governance and human rights; efforts have
been made to tackle violent extremism; and steps against
gender-based discrimination, including domestic violence
legislation and penalties for sexual harassment, have been
implemented.
On this score,Mr.Guterres emphasised the economic importance of
empowering women: it has been shown that full and real gender
parity would have a major impact on the region, increasing the
gross domestic product by some $2.7 trillion by 2025.
Schools for Palestinian refugees ‘cannot be
closed’
Following his appearance at the WEF meeting, the UN chief
travelled to the Baqa’a camp, one of six "emergency" camps set up
in 1968 to accommodate Palestine refugees and displaced people
who left the West Bank and Gaza Strip as a result of the 1967
Arab-Israeli war.
Today, Baqa’a is home to nearly 120,000 registered Palestinian
refugees, and is the largest camp north of the Jordanian capital,
Amman.
There, he met with staff and beneficiaries of the United Nations
Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA), and emphasized the
importance of continuing to fund the vital services UNRWA
provides to millions of Palestine refugees in the West Bank,
including East Jerusalem, Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
“The stories I heard today were very compelling, both in showing
the strength and courage of Palestinian refugees, and in
conveying their concern about their future,” said the
Secretary-General. “What remains with me are words of hope and
determination of men and women, young and old.”
