Arab News Japan
TOKYO: Celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations between Jordan and Japan, in an event attended by Princess TAKAMADO Hisako, Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan said he drew inspiration from the organization of atomic bomb survivors in Japan known as the Hibakusha.
The group won the Nobel Peace Prize this year.
Prince Hassan told the gathering of royalty, diplomats, politicians, and government officials how the atomic bomb survivors had inspired him. “To them, I would express my deepest gratitude for reminding us all that what is important is the millions of people suffering, human dignity suffering, in different parts of the globe. And I would like to suggest that if our relations are to succeed in the next 70 years, they should be humanized.”
Princess Takamado, reflecting on her cherished visits to Jordan, echoed Prince Hassan’s message of peace. Her words resonate with hope, as she envisions the 70th anniversary as a catalyst for strengthening the amicable relations between the peoples of Jordan and Japan and a beacon for a peaceful and prosperous future for the entire world.
The Prince said the most problematic of challenges facing humanity are the challenges of “deliberate crises,” adding that while he laments the attack on Israel by Hamas, the humanitarian crisis is becoming bleaker and bleaker, not only for the people of Gaza but also for the people of the occupied West Bank.
Prince El Hassan paints a stark picture of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Palestinians are forced to drink from polluted agricultural wells. Even before the recent Hamas attack, 97 percent of Gaza’s freshwater resources were contaminated due to the Israeli blockade and repeated bombardments.
While the damage is devastating, he reminded his audience that it could be worse, with Israel being a nuclear power.
The Prince also spoke of the millions of refugees accepted by Jordan: “We have 53 different nationalities of people who are swarming into our country because of its relative stability. The common denominator between all these people is the loss of human dignity.”
Jordanian Chargé d’Affaires Ali Al-Arabiyat also reflected on the tragedies affecting the region but looked forward to a time when peace might prevail and thanked Japan for its assistance.
“As we reflect on our strong partnership, we must also acknowledge the ongoing challenges in our region,” he said. “The suffering of the people in Gaza and Lebanon caused by the Israeli aggression weighs heavily on our region’s stability and international peace. Jordan will spare no effort to work towards an end to this war and to alleviate the human suffering that Israel has caused.”
“We will unequivocally continue advocating for the inalienable right of the Palestinian people in self-determination and in establishing a Palestinian State on their national soil. Through our collective efforts, along with friends and partners like Japan, we can strive toward a future where peace and harmony prevail, allowing all people in our region – and, indeed, the world – to live with dignity, tranquility, and prosperity they deserve,” Al-Arabiyat said.