King Abdullah of Jordan Dedicates Arab Center
Former GU Grad Student Hailed as Son of Georgetown
By Tim Sullivan Hoya Staff Writer
His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, who studied at Georgetown for one year in 1987, said that it was “good to be back among friends” as he dedicated the new facilities of the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies in ICC Wednesday.
Abdullah said that the Center is “an illustrious center of excellence.”
University President Leo J. O’Donovan, S.J., who traveled on several occasions with President Clinton (SFS ’68) to meet with Abdullah’s predecessor and father, King Hussein I, introduced His Majesty. According to O’Donovan, Hussein’s support was integral to the success of the center, and called the center “part of the legacy” of Abdullah’s father.
O’Donovan said that he has long considered the Jordanian royal family “a part of the Georgetown family.”
Abdullah credited much of the development going on in Jordan to the training he and his colleagues received at the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies.
His Majesty was on hand to dedicate the new facilities of the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, which is the only academic institution in the United States devoted solely to the study of the modern Arab world. The renovation of the center’s second floor ICC facilities coincides with its 25th anniversary.
His Majesty, “a most distinguished son of Georgetown,” according to O’Donovan, also talked about the future of Middle East policy. He stressed the importance of stability to a lasting peace, and emphasized the need for economic growth in the region.
“We must be ready for an era dominated by economics.we must put aside conflicts,” said Abdullah. “This is what our children will remember us for.”
He further asserted the need for technological development in the region. “Information technology will not wait for short-sighted interests,” he said..
The ceremony, which lasted 30 minutes, included the presentation of a plaque commemorating the occasion and Georgetown sweatshirts to Abdullah and his wife, Her Majesty Queen Rania. The two then proceeded to meet members of the invitation-only crowd, including each of the undergraduate deans. Students then had the opportunity to meet with Abdullah, including Ra’ad Sa’d Missmar (SFS ’02), a Jordanian citizen. “It was a great honor to meet my King,” Missmar said.
Abdullah talked informally with many of the students, including issmar. “I asked if I could have my picture taken with him, and he responded, in Arabic, `naturally’,” Missmar said.
His Majesty assumed the Jordanian throne in February following the death of his father, King Hussein. He is the 43rd generation-direct descendant of the Muslim prophet Muhammad. He is also a member of the Hashemite dynasty which, according to Nemir Kirdar, president and CEO of Investcorp, sponsor of the Center’s renovations, has “done more for the Arab world and sacrificed more for the Arab world than any other family.”
In the coming months, the center will continue to celebrate its anniversary, including an “informal birthday party” on Dec. 2 for students and alumni.