Jordan Times
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Mulki holds talks with Shalom, Nazif in Davos
DAVOS (Petra) — Foreign Minister Hani Mulki and his Israeli counterpart
Silvan Shalom on Friday discussed ways to put the peace process back on track,
and the issue of Jordanian prisoners in Israel.
During the meeting, held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos,
Mulki underlined the need to implement the roadmap, stressing that the Israeli
withdrawal from the Gaza Strip should be carried out as a part of the roadmap,
to bring an end to the occupation and lead to the creation of a viable
Palestinian state.
Mulki also stressed that progress in the peace process be made on all tracks.
Talks between the two sides also covered the agreement reached between
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the different Palestinian factions.
Mulki underscored the importance of Israel's support for the ceasefire by
halting Israeli incursions, assassinations, barriers, blockades and the siege of
the Palestinian cities. He also called for the withdrawal of the Israeli troops
to the position they held before the outbreak of the Intifada in September 2000.
Mulki said Shalom expressed Israel's willingness to implement a withdrawal in
coordination with the Palestinian National Authority.
The two ministers also discussed the issue of Jordanian prisoners and the need
for their release, in addition to the return of the Jordanian ambassador to
Israel.
Mulki said he would have a second meeting with Shalom during the next two weeks
to receive Israel's response regarding the Kingdom's proposals made during
Friday's meeting.
In separate meetings, Mulki discussed Jordanian-Egyptian coordination on several
issues of mutual concern with Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmad Nazif and Jamal
Mubarak, the secretary general of the Egyptian National Party.