Jordan hopes for peaceful year in region

AMMAN, Jordan, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- The Jordanian government -- squeezed between the instability in Iraq and the Palestinian territories and Israel -- hopes it will not have to struggle for survival in the year ahead as Iraqis and Palestinians go to the polls and elect new leaders who might restore peace in the region.

In the past year, the pro-American regime in Amman managed to contain growing anger at home over the continued U.S. onslaught on Iraq, its eastern neighbor, and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict across its western border.

Jordanian leaders also hope they will not face more challenges as Palestinians prepare to vote for a new Palestinian Authority president on Jan. 9, and Iraqis endeavor to elect a new Parliament on Jan. 30 that might determine Iraq's political future.

Jordan, where more than half of its population of 5.4 million is originally Palestinian, expects, and privately hopes, the Palestinians would choose Fatah's candidate for president, Mahmoud Abbas, the new PLO chairman who replaced Yasser Arafat after his death in November, as their new leader.

Jordanian officials, while refusing to publicly express their preference, privately say that Abbas' connections with Washington and Israel could help restore the frozen peace process with the Jewish state in accordance with the "road map" that was drawn up and endorsed two years ago by the Americans, Europeans, Russians and the United Nations.

Amman was pleased with the way the Palestinian leadership and people dealt with Arafat's death, saying it was a "very mature, peaceful and smooth transition," and is keeping an eye on the Palestinian election that could take the region to the next stage -- one of peace.

Jordan, struggling with trying to make its unpopular 1994 peace treaty with Israel acceptable at home, is confident that 2005 will witness a transition ending what it calls the Palestinian-Israeli "cycle of violence" and a return to the negotiating table.

Government spokeswoman Asma Khader told United Press International her country hoped the emergence of a newly elected leadership would "overcome this difficult stage and prevent any (Israeli) opportunities that claim there is no proper partner" with whom to negotiate.

The right-wing Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, had consistently refused to accept the late Arafat as a "negotiating partner," often accusing him of responsibility for the Palestinian armed attacks and suicide bombings in Israel.

Khader, herself of Palestinian origin, said while her government did not expect the establishment of a Palestinian state next year, as stipulated in the "road map," it hoped for its formation as soon as possible.

She added that Jordan was "hoping, seeking and working towards the establishment of this state and to first see a commitment from both sides to the points made in the 'road map' without further delays."

The spokeswoman said her government was pleased with the ongoing Arab and international efforts that seek to achieve progress on ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the coming year, saying they could lead to progress in the next 12 months.

She insisted that if "these efforts continue and if the Palestinian leadership overcomes this phase by preventing Israeli attempts (to ignore recognizing them as negotiating partners), and if this regional and international need is properly invested, we could see real progress next year."

But Jordan is also seeking partnership in negotiations on issues that affect its interests, including the fate of millions of Palestinian refugees, 1.7 million of whom live in this kingdom, and the Israeli separation barrier being erected in the West Bank, which Jordan fears could lead to a new Palestinian exodus to its territories.

On the Iraqi front, however, Jordan is not optimistic that the Iraqi elections, if held on time amid chaos and violence, will lead to the emergence of a leadership truly representative of the entire fabric of Iraqi society.

King Abdullah repeatedly warned that holding elections under these circumstances would prevent many from participating, especially the Sunnis, who would thus be excluded from drawing up the political future of the country.

Khader said that while Amman regarded the Iraqi elections as a purely internal affair, Jordan strongly believed that the right security conditions must first be met before holding a vote that would bring about a representative leadership, "and that's why we had an impression that achieving successful elections needed a reconsideration of the date."

But whatever leadership emerges east of Jordan, the kingdom is looking forward to dealing with it, upgrading economic cooperation with Iraq, and providing support at the request of the Iraqi leadership.

Jordan, with Western assistance, has trained thousands of Iraqi policemen and continues to do so.

Khader said that despite the "difficult and dark stage" the region was passing through, "we have no other option but to work within the hope of overcoming all these difficulties and to find a place for ourselves under the sun" in the coming year.