Jordan Times
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
Shalom postpones Jordan trip
By a staff reporter
AMMAN — A visit scheduled today by Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom to Jordan was postponed because of "technical reasons," a senior official announced on Tuesday.Minister of State and Government Spokesperson Asma Khader said the trip was delayed due to "technical reasons related due to both sides," adding that a new date will be set in the future.
Khader did not elaborate, but told reporters after a Cabinet session yesterday that Jordan is interested in Shalom's trip to pursue essential issues, particularly the Jordanian prisoners in Israel, the separation barrier and the roadmap.
"Jordan was aware that the detainees will not be released before Eid Al Adha, even before the postponement of the Israeli foreign minister's trip," she said. There are approximately 71 Jordanian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Around 20 are expected to be released in the next few days.
Israeli embassy spokesperson Amir Weissbrod told The Jordan Times that Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher and Shalom spoke over the phone on Tuesday and "jointly decided to postpone Wednesday's visit to a more suitable date." According to Weissbrod, the two ministers "stressed the importance of maintaining good relations.
"We are holding serious talks concerning the release of the prisoners," Weissbrod said. Israel freed 10 Jordanians in November.
Foreign Ministry officials were not available for comment.
Shalom's visit, to be the first by an Israeli foreign minister to the Kingdom since 1999, was seen as part of efforts to improve relations with the Arab world. It was also seen as an attempt to ease tense ties, further strained by a recent dispute over Israel's so-called "security" barrier. Jordan recalled its ambassador to Israel in 2000 in protest against the Jewish state's handling of the Palestinian uprising.
Amman also repeatedly condemned the controversial separation barrier, dubbed by some as the new "Berlin wall." Muasher on several occasions stressed that the fence, which cuts deep into the West Bank, does not only threaten a viable Palestinian state and the peace process, but also Jordan's national security.
This month, the Kingdom would present its legal argument against the 700km wall before the International Court of Justice in the Hague, along with other countries.
The 22-member Arab League has urged Arab countries to submit their cases against the fence by the end of the month.
Jordanian plans to present its legal argument spurred criticism by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who reportedly warned that bilateral relations could be damaged by joining the international campaign against the barrier.
Islamic Action Front deputies have called on the government to cancel Shalom's visit. They were reacting to Sharon's remarks.