Jordan Times
Thursday, February 3, 2005
Monarch holds talks with Assad,
calls for reviving Arab initiative
By Alia Shukri Hamzeh
AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday called for reviving the Arab
Peace Initiative, which was endorsed in Beirut in 2002.
“The initiative was a solid and strong basis for a just and comprehensive peace
in the region,” King Abdullah told Syrian President Bashar Assad at a meeting
here yesterday.
The plan urged an Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories seized
in the 1967 war, the establishment of a Palestinian state and a just solution to
the refugee problem, in return for collective security guarantees by all Arab
states to Tel Aviv and normalisation of relations.
Foreign Minister Hani Mulki told reporters after the meeting that the two
leaders saw eye-to-eye on all regional issues.
He added that they stressed the importance of the peace initiative “as the only
existing and tangible plan to end the Arab-Israeli conflict.”
According to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, the King and Assad agreed that
pushing the stagnant Middle East peace process forward would help meet peoples'
aspirations of security, stability and reform.
Pledging to support Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the two sides said the
international community should help the Palestinians restore their rights and
attain their goal of a viable and independent state.
King Abdullah and the Syrian president also reiterated the need to activate
joint Arab efforts ahead of the Algerian summit, expected to be held in March.
In addition to the peace process and Iraqi situation, the summit is expected to
study Arab League reform prospects.
On Iraq, meanwhile, King Abdullah said the elections are expected to help the
violence-ravaged country forge a better future for its people. He expressed hope
that the new government would represent all Iraqis.
Assad visited Jordan in April. A joint higher committee, headed by the prime
ministers of both countries, is expected to meet on the 23rd of this month to
conclude the details of a border control agreement, Mulki and his Syrian
counterpart Farouk Sharaa told reporters.
The border agreement would help both sides counter cross-border drug trafficking
and “terrorist infiltration,” as well as regulate the flow of labour and
facilitate travel.