Prince Zeid Bin Ra'ad & Princess Sarah Zeid

[Salomé]

Originally Posted by Veram98

Because he doesn’t show any real interest in the throne of Iraq there will be no conflict of interests.

Really?why then he didn't make any dicision or official declaration to abdicate from the head of the iraqi royal house,because untill now,he considers himself the pretendent for the Iraqi throne and considers himself the head of the Iraqi Royal house.
http://www.4dw.net/royalark/Iraq/iraq3.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/mid....stm#royalists

Besides, it is now obvious that the US are prefering a republic in Iraq to a monarchy

So it was before 2003 , but sometimes, interests change the choices.

I wish Prince Zeid all the best for the election. I think he would be a good choice for the post

I wish also a Muslim or Arab as a UNGS,it will give an other perception for the role of the UN in that area full of conflicts,I was happy with the good job of the Egyptian (even christian)Boutros Ghali though,BUT not prince Zaid, too much delicate in many sides, and would look like an other lobby which serves the interests on some rather than a neutral organisation which uses the diplomacy for conflicts.

[Zonk]

At this time, I would like to reinforce Avalon's comment that we try to stay off the subject of politics. The moderators are trying to allow a free and honest discussion, so please be careful...we would hate to close this thread or delete political posts.

I would also like to point out this is thread is about the Royal Family of Jordan and not Iraq. And yes, while it is possible for a person to be in line to succession for two or more countries, this particular thread is increasingly becoming a discussion about the Iraq throne and this is not the place for that discussion.

Thank you.

[madonna23]

okay, so even if we ignore zaid & iraq, isn't anyone else bothered by the idea that someone at the head of the un would be a royal? i just think it's very odd - maybe not for members of this forum because we read about royalty and are familiar with it but for the majority of the world, royalty is a very odd thing and to have the representative of the un be royal would just be weird.

[Salomé]

Madonna,of course it's bothering,especially if the royal in Question Zaid,is a very close relative of a king who's ruling and still reigning like an absolute monarch.

If it was a non reigning royal with no power,we could have ignored that,but it's not Zaid's case.

[Frothy]

I admire Prince Zeid (in English docs he seems to spell it that way, Zeid not Zaid). He has done a great job for Jordan in the US and is very moderate. I think he'd be a great UN ambassador. It is good to see his branch of the family featured in the forum.

[tesaweer]

Originally Posted by Frothy

I admire Prince Zeid (in English docs he seems to spell it that way, Zeid not Zaid). He has done a great job for Jordan in the US and is very moderate. I think he'd be a great UN ambassador. It is good to see his branch of the family featured in the forum.

Can you please tell me of any publication or links about his job or the things he did to jordan in his role in the UN, as many of us have never heard about him before. I read he's just 42 and worked in the UN since the year 2000. Any links would be appreciated

[Frothy]

From the NYT note he spells it "Zeid" not Zaid

http://www.nytimes.com/glogin?URI=ht...XZQ5C.Q51wQ7Ek

By ZEID RAL-HUSSEIN
Only if the United Nations has the will to change itself can it change the world.

THE United Nations faces a daunting range of challenges in the 21st century: promoting development without fostering dependency; combating climate change without reducing growth; defending human rights without insisting on one true path. But in the past five years, a specter has risen, casting a shadow across the world: the specter of extremism, instability and injustice gripping the Middle East.

[Salomé]

Originally Posted by Salomé

Paper blasts Qatar for failure to back Jordan's UN candidate


Amman - A pro-government Jordanian newspaper on Sunday lashed out at Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jabr al-Thani for his refusal to back Jordan's candidate for the post of UN secretary general, Prince Zeid Bin Raad.
The daily al-Rai charged in a front-page article that Qatar's representative at the Security Council 'not only voted against the Jordanian candidate but urged others to follow suit'.

http://news.monstersandcritics.com/m...s_UN_candidate

Race for Annan’s successor hots up

Jordan’s UN Ambassador Prince Zeid al-Hussein, who entered the race to succeed Annan only on September 5, came in fourth ahead of former UN disarmament chief Jayantha Dhanapala, a Sri Lankan, they added.

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Dis...6091743547.xml

Jordan called their ambassador in Qatar,as Qatar won't support the Jordanian candidate for the UNSG post.

I am not understunding the attitude of Jordanian officials,I think this is a vote,and every country is free to support the candidate who convicts it,and there's no obligation from Qatar to support the Jordanian candidate,if it was so,every vote would create diplomatic crisis as now?

[houri]

Originally Posted by Salomé

Jordan called their ambassador in Qatar,as Qatar won't support the Jordanian candidate for the UNSG post.

I am not understunding the attitude of Jordanian officials,I think this is a vote,and every country is free to support the candidate who convicts it,and there's no obligation from Qatar to support the Jordanian candidate,if it was so,every vote would create diplomatic crisis as now?

As I understood from arabic newpeaper that all Arabs country support Jordan's candidate include Quter but without a reason they changed their mind and support another candidate !
so we don't know what is going on between the two countries .

[Salomé]

Originally Posted by houri

As I understood from arabic newpeaper that all Arabs country support Jordan's candidate include Quter but without a reason they changed their mind and support another candidate !

Apparently not,this is only the jordanian version and jordanian papers' version,Qatar was clear before candidature of prince Zeid about the candidate they are supporting,say they never talkek about supporting Zeid's candidature any time,to be accused by changing their mind.

Article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061003/...N5bnN1YmNhdA--

In Monday's poll, .....
According to the results, Ban received 14 votes in favor and a white "no opinion" ballot cast by one of the 10 rotating members of the council. Every other candidate received at least one no vote from a veto-wielding member.
Zeid had only two votes in favor and eight against, with one veto.
After the vote on Monday, Qatar's U.N. Ambassador Nassir Al-Nassir confirmed that his nation did not vote for Prince Zeid. He did not specify whether he cast a no vote or expressed no opinion, but said Zeid had entered the race after Qatar had already promised to vote for someone else.
"My foreign minister told them it's late for Jordan to come now with a candidate," al-Nassir said. "We already, a year ago, we gave our commitment to one of the candidates and we cannot play with this."

[lil Monkey]

Originally Posted by Salomé

Jordan called their ambassador in Qatar,as Qatar won't support the Jordanian candidate for the UNSG post.

I am not understunding the attitude of Jordanian officials,I think this is a vote,and every country is free to support the candidate who convicts it,and there's no obligation from Qatar to support the Jordanian candidate,if it was so,every vote would create diplomatic crisis as now?

even though I am a jordanian an would have loved Prince zeid to get the position, but it's a matter of freedom,Qatar didn't want to vote then fine,what is all this about? They have the right to vote to whomever they want,I was shocked from the Gov's reaction, its a bit over.

[Salomé]

Thank you Lil Monkey,I like your partiality even if you are jordanian.

This crisis shows once again that Prince Zeid was not a good choice for this position,everytime that somebody would disagree with him or with the Jordanian Royal family and governoment,this would be taken with big sensitiveness?I do not think that people are looking for that in such as organisation.

I do think that the Jordanain Gov headed by King Abdallah should learn a lot about diplomacy,democracy and fredom of opinions, before trying to be representative in such as organisation.

[houri]

Originally Posted by Salomé

Apparently not,this is only the jordanian version and jordanian papers' version,Qatar was clear before candidature of prince Zeid about the candidate they are supporting,say they never talkek about supporting Zeid's candidature any time,to be accused by changing their mind.

Article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061003/...N5bnN1YmNhdA--

In Monday's poll, .....
According to the results, Ban received 14 votes in favor and a white "no opinion" ballot cast by one of the 10 rotating members of the council. Every other candidate received at least one no vote from a veto-wielding member.
Zeid had only two votes in favor and eight against, with one veto.
After the vote on Monday, Qatar's U.N. Ambassador Nassir Al-Nassir confirmed that his nation did not vote for Prince Zeid. He did not specify whether he cast a no vote or expressed no opinion, but said Zeid had entered the race after Qatar had already promised to vote for someone else.
"My foreign minister told them it's late for Jordan to come now with a candidate," al-Nassir said. "We already, a year ago, we gave our commitment to one of the candidates and we cannot play with this."

First of all I agree that Qater has the right to choos what ever they want , I just give a review to what I read in the newspeapers to what Jordan upset about , it seems until now that every one blame the other , this case show that no prince should be in that sensitive position .

this two articles for the same newspeaper explains why Jordan is upset !!

http://www.aawsat.com/details.asp?se...77&issue=10172

http://www.aawsat.com/details.asp?se...48&issue=10173

[houri]

Another article explain that Qatar told Jordan that they will not support prince Zaid and in the same article Jordan saying Qatar broke the Arabs agreement to support prince Zaid !!!

http://www.elaph.com/ElaphWeb/Politi.../10/181569.htm

[Salomé]

Originally Posted by houri

Another article explain that Qatar told Jordan that they will not support prince Zaid and in the same article Jordan saying Qatar broke the Arabs agreement to support prince Zaid !!!

http://www.elaph.com/ElaphWeb/Politi.../10/181569.htm

Broke the Arabs agreement?This is always the Jordanian Gov's version!
Every arab country has his interests,and Jordan's interests are not all Arabs' interests,and this is the problem of the Royal Jordanian candidate.

As far as I know,Arabs didn't gather or meet and choose Prince Zeid to suggest or to represent them for this position,Jordan came,and presented their candidate end of September,without any previous warning!

And Qatar,even though the lonely actual arab country voting in UN,said they were already supporting and other candidate from one year,and they won't change it,and this is their right!.And by the way,nobody find anywhere,that Qatar said anytime that they would support Prince Zaid,and if somebody talked and decided for them without asking their opinion,so this is not their probleme.

[shrifia]

I totally agree with you Salomé.
and I belive that the problem between Quatar and Jordan is more than just a vote in UN. Quatar try always to get some attention by his Other than concept Politics but this time it were her right to vote anyone she chose, and Jordan in my opinion Exaggerated alot what's Arabs agreement they talk about every arab country are free to do what she want and not changes his plans because other country had other Projects??!! and anywaye they didn't chose the right candidate.Zeid isn't the right choice.
I really hope that some day a muslim can be in this position but someone else then royal.

[shelley]

I am neither an Arab nor a Muslim, but would also have welcomed a new SG who would have been one or both of the former, for the sake of diversity if nothing else. However, this sort of endeavor is not easily achieved. If as we hear, the Jordanian candidate only entered the arena formally last month, it was way too late. This sort of thing needs years of lobbying and funding. With my respects to our Arab members ( and I know and love the Arab world) I also wonder if en masse the Arab world is sufficently sophisticated to let an Arab SG succeed. If he had to occasionally say or do something which did not follow the mainstream of Arab popular opinion, he might have found himself in trouble back home, where people still say ( and mean it) , ( and please forgive my bad translation ) that 'I and my brother against my cousin, but my cousin and I against the stranger'.

[lil Monkey]

Originally Posted by shelley

'I and my brother against my cousin, but my cousin and I against the stranger'.

nice way you thought of it I agree with you, This is how the case is nowadays!

[shelley]

There are those whom I have talked to who know of my partiality to Prince Hassan, who maintain that this gentleman might have stood a better chance than Prince Zeid, even though he is also royal, as he is generally much better known both in the Arab world and internationally, and is more experienced. I personally do not think that he would want to be restricted by holding down a formal position as now he is a free agent, which he must find quite liberating after over thirty five years of public life.

[Salomé]

Prince Zeid Jordanian Envoy Withdraws From UN Leader Race 6 Oct 2006 06:10 GMT

... Jordanian Envoy Withdraws From UN Leader Race UNITED ... touched off a dispute between Jordan and Qatar, wrote a letter to the Security Council.

source: http://www.einnews.com/qatar/newsfeed-qatar-jordan

Originally Posted by shelley

There are those whom I have talked to who know of my partiality to Prince Hassan, who maintain that this gentleman might have stood a better chance than Prince Zeid, even though he is also royal, as he is generally much better known both in the Arab world and internationally, and is more experienced. I personally do not think that he would want to be restricted by holding down a formal position as now he is a free agent, which he must find quite liberating after over thirty five years of public life.

I do not discuss P.Hassan's skills,experince and loyality for Jordan,but I don't think either that he would be a better choice than Prince Zeid,for this position,not just because he's a royal and the uncle of an actual head of state,but for the other reason that he had showen some interests in Iraq which I pointed before,and also because of his big loyality for the Hashemite throne,there will be confusion between personal interests and the interests of the others in case of conflicts.

I also wonder if en masse the Arab world is sufficently sophisticated to let an Arab SG succeed

Why not,they already agreed to support an arab candidate before ,the Egyptian Boutros Gali to become a UNSG,and so it was.

The problem is not that arabs will/won't support and arab or muslim,because of his he has the same culture,but it's that the candidate should be a good and diplomatic choice between all countries if he would represent them,and not imposed in the last minute.