AFP, AMMAN: French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie and Jordan's King Abdullah II stressed the vital role of special forces in future conflicts at the opening here of an international conference and military trade fair.
“The special forces are essential for the security of our states. They are essential in conflict resolution,” Alliot-Marie said.
Three French instructors are training Jordanian special forces in sky-diving exercices and there will be courses in other fields in the future, she said.
The Jordanian monarch, who set up the special forces in his country after being trained himself in France, also insisted on the important role of such specialised units and the need to invest in them.
“Special forces and special operations are going to be on the cutting edge for the military in the foreseeable future,” the king said.
“Special forces and special operations represent anywhere from one to four percent of the manpower of our forces,” he said.
“But more and more you will see in the coming years that over 90 percent of the requirements our countries must put forward in military operations will go to special forces or special operations units,” he said.
“Money spent on those units is money well spent,” the king added.
He also called on countries to close ranks “to do more and share techniques, informations, capabilities … because we are facing a common threat”.
Alliot-Marie said Monday's conference, on the eve of a three-day military trade fair, “takes its full meaning at a time when the regional and international environment is very unstable”.
She spoke of the escalation in violence in Iraq and the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories, saying Baghdad must regain its sovereignty and a Palestinian state be created side by side with Israel to end the conflicts.
Alliot-Marie arrived Sunday in Jordan after touring three Arab Gulf states and is due to leave later Monday.
A court official said she met privately with King Abdullah on the sidelines of the conference to dicuss regional and international issues of common interest as well as military cooperation between France and Jordan.
The king also met separately with senior defence and military officials from several countries, including Oman, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Brunei and China, the official told AFP.
More than 50 countries and 200 exhibitors will attend Sofex 2004, the fifth biennial defence exhibition, opens Tuesday at the King Abdullah I Airbase in Marka, eastern Amman, organisers said.
The fair “will focus on special operations forces, their special-to-role equipment, training and delivery methods, including combat support and combat service support systems”, the Sofex official website said.
“The exhibition will also be supported by a wide range of tactical, live-firing and mobility displays,” it said.
Countries participating include Iraq, the United States, France, Australian as well as several Arab, Asian and European nations.
Firms represented include Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Smith and Wesson, and Boeing.
Hardware on display will include border security and counter-infiltration equipment, military vehicles and aircraft and communications systems, organisers said.
