44TH LEGISLATURE - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - FIRST SESSION, 1999

EXPRESSING THE CONDOLENCES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ON THE DEATH OF JORDAN'S KING HUSSEIN.

WHEREAS, following World Wars I and II, which created the Arab states as we know them, Jordan was a British protectorate and Britain controlled the army and educated the leaders of the territory; and

WHEREAS, in 1953 Hussein bin Talal was named king of Jordan at the age of sixteen and proceeded to lead Jordan to independence; and

WHEREAS, King Hussein was dedicated to peace and progress; and

WHEREAS, the darkest hour of his rule was in 1967 when Israel captured the west bank, resulting in thirty-one years of tension, punctuated frequently by open hostility among the various religious and ethnic communities in the region; and

WHEREAS, tense relations existed between King Hussein, Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization for the entire span of King Hussein's reign, threatening his reign and middle east stability; and

WHEREAS, King Hussein managed to maintain an uneasy peace, balancing relations with the west and with other Arab states, a tricky balancing act, but essential for his country's survival; and

WHEREAS, he continued developing close ties to the west, including his marriage to Queen Noor, who was born in the United States; and

WHEREAS, King Hussein played the role of peacemaker for forty- six years and set an example for the world, balancing volatile interests that could have destroyed the fabric of peace at any time, and yet he survived, inspired and led;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that condolences be expressed on the death of King Hussein, a dedicated and devoted citizen of the world; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the Jordanian embassy in Washington.