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 The BBC's John Simpson"Great concern not to be isolated."  real 28k  |
King Abdullah: Peace in 2000
King Abdullah talks to John Simpson
A year after the death of his father, King Abdullah II of Jordan talks to the BBC's world affairs editor John Simpson and reveals his hopes for his country and for peace in the region.
King Abdullah of Jordan believes peace in the Middle East will be achieved this year. In a BBC interview, he said that the differences between Syria and Israel were not as great as people thought, and with encouragement, peace was now a real possibility.
King Abdullah said he would come down heavily on corruption at home, and revealed that he had visited many institutions and businesses incognito so he could find out what was really going on in his country.
King Abdullah of Jordan believes peace in the Middle East will be achieved this year. In a BBC interview, he said that the differences between Syria and Israel were not as great as people thought, and with encouragement, peace was now a real possibility.
King Abdullah said he would come down heavily on corruption at home, and revealed that he had visited many institutions and businesses incognito so he could find out what was really going on in his country.
I don't think we can afford the time to wait for another generation  |
King Abdullah
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Speaking a year after becoming king following the death of his father King Hussein, who reigned for more than 30 years, he said peace in the Middle East was one of his major priorities.
He said: "I don't think either country wants to stall for the sake of not having peace.
"Both countries have taken a strategic decision to have peace. Syria wants to have peace with Israel, now it comes down to negotiations.
"There will be bumps in the road but peace will happen between Syria and Israel, and I believe it will happen this year."
Anti-corruption pledge
King Abdullah believes his country is progressing well but admits it has been a very deep learning curve.
"There's still more that I need to learn, but I'm feeling more comfortable with the way things are going now."
He said: "I don't think either country wants to stall for the sake of not having peace.
"Both countries have taken a strategic decision to have peace. Syria wants to have peace with Israel, now it comes down to negotiations.
"There will be bumps in the road but peace will happen between Syria and Israel, and I believe it will happen this year."
Anti-corruption pledge
King Abdullah believes his country is progressing well but admits it has been a very deep learning curve.
"There's still more that I need to learn, but I'm feeling more comfortable with the way things are going now."
 King Hussein of Jordan who died a year ago
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Economic reform was paramount, but the King also revealed he wanted to crack down on corruption although he did not believe Jordan was one of the world's most corrupt countries.
He said: "I've been on the receiving end as were my soldiers on inferior equipment and not enough of it because of those who took advantage of the system.
"If I find people stepping over the boundary, I will hold them accountable and they will be punished."
He revealed he goes around the country in disguise talking to the masses and finding out how the country is really being run.
He said: "I've been on the receiving end as were my soldiers on inferior equipment and not enough of it because of those who took advantage of the system.
"If I find people stepping over the boundary, I will hold them accountable and they will be punished."
He revealed he goes around the country in disguise talking to the masses and finding out how the country is really being run.
 Queen Rania of Jordan has had to cope with dramatic changes
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He said: "In this position the greatest fear that I have is of being isolated.
"So going out in disguise was really to be able to keep that link that I'd had previously.
"If I wasn't in disguise and was to go to an institution and ask what the problems were, people would probably say what I want to hear, or what they think is the right thing to say."
Elvis
Jordanian citizens do not know when or where he will turn up next.
King Abdullah joked: "It's a bit like Elvis, it's like sightings all over the country."
He admits his family, his wife and two children aged five and three, have had to adapt to major changes quickly.
"So going out in disguise was really to be able to keep that link that I'd had previously.
"If I wasn't in disguise and was to go to an institution and ask what the problems were, people would probably say what I want to hear, or what they think is the right thing to say."
Elvis
Jordanian citizens do not know when or where he will turn up next.
King Abdullah joked: "It's a bit like Elvis, it's like sightings all over the country."
He admits his family, his wife and two children aged five and three, have had to adapt to major changes quickly.
I had a private life, one that is no longer so. |
King Abdullah
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But he aims to bring his children up as normally as possible, by seeing as much of them as he can and putting them to bed in the evenings.
"I had a private life, one that is no longer so.
"I have a wife and and two children but now I have a family close to five million, and that has been a dramatic change."
"I had a private life, one that is no longer so.
"I have a wife and and two children but now I have a family close to five million, and that has been a dramatic change."
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