Mr. Speaker, today, the Bloc Quebecois joins with all those in the Middle East and elsewhere in the international community who mourn the passing of King Hussein of Jordan.
The Bloc Quebecois pays tribute to this man, who understood that war was a scourge and who, until very recently, played an active role in the peace process to bring about a reconciliation between Palestinians and Israelis, between the Jewish and Arab worlds.
Bloc Quebecois members wish King Hussein's successor, his son, the new King Abdullah, a calm and peaceful transition, in the critical days ahead. They urge him to play a leadership role in the search for a lasting peace in the Middle East, as King Hussein did for the 46 years of his reign, in order to restore Jordan to prosperity.