“In the chaos, we risk forgetting who we are, and what we stand for. But it is precisely at these junctures of history that we must recommit to our values”, said King Abdullah of Jordan in his address in Strasbourg. “When the world loses its moral bearings, we lose our shared sense of right and wrong — of what is just, and what is cruel. And when that happens, conflict is never far behind. History teaches us that wars are rarely just about territory. They are battles over worldviews — over which ideas and ideals will shape our future. And Europe understands that”. Then the speaker retraced the steps towards the building of a united Europe after World War II. “You chose to recognise that what you had in common was far greater than what set you apart. Today, so must our global community”.

“Throughout Arab and European history, respect, responsibility, goodwill, and good faith have guided collaborations that led to our mutual good. And they can guide our response to today’s challenges as well”. Then he said about monotheistic religions: “In the last two decades, I have sought to shed light on the values we share — many rooted in our different faiths, Islam, Christianity, Judaism. The values of compassion, justice, and equality. The moral teachings passed to us over generations that call on us to love our neighbours, to protect children and the innocent, to aid the poor and injured, to care for God’s earth, and more”. He then reaffirmed Jordan’s “national principles of tolerance and mutual respect” and went on to stress: “We are proud to be home to the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ, peace be upon him, at Bethany Beyond the Jordan”.