Jordan Times
Thursday, February 24, 2005
King holds talks with
Chirac, says London conference should revive Arab peace initiative
Petra
His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday said the
upcoming London conference should ensure that the Arab Peace Initiative is
revived and Palestinians are financially supported.
King Abdullah told French President Jacques Chirac at an Elysee Palace meeting
that the conference, which is to mainly address Palestinian
institution-building, should also ensure that Israel's withdrawal from Gaza is
part of the roadmap to the Middle East peace process.
“One important opportunity to assist will come at the London conference in
March, which will organise international assistance for Palestinian efforts to
build democratic institutions, and will also discuss the economic support,
public and private, needed to give Palestinians a new future of hope,” the King
wrote in Le Monde.
During the meeting, King Abdullah and Chirac saw eye- to-eye on the need for the
Palestinians and the Israelis to honour their commitments to the roadmap, which
envision an end to the Middle East conflict and the establishment of a
Palestinian state. The two leaders said both sides of the conflict should work
on implementing the resolutions of the recently held Sharm El Sheikh summit.
The King stressed that a comprehensive peace in the region requires activating
the Syrian and Lebanese tracks as well as a greater role by the UN and the
international community.
King Abdullah, meanwhile, urged the UN and the world to fulfil their obligations
towards Iraq and help its people rebuild their country and live in security and
stability.
On Lebanon, King Abdullah said Jordan was keen on the unity and sovereignty of
the country as well as the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution
1559, stressing at the same time that all parties should implement international
resolutions with no exception.
On bilateral ties, the King reviewed plans to improve the living conditions of
Jordanians and to involve them in the political decision making.
He said financial and technical support by the EU, including France, helps
Jordan implement its ambitious development plans.
Commending Jordan's socio-economic and political reform plans, the French
president said Paris would seek to help Jordan, among other countries, to solve
their debt problems. At the same time, he added, France will urge the EU and the
G-8 countries to secure necessary funds for the Kingdom's development programmes.
He said France would earmark additional appropriations for Jordan in the coming
years.
King Abdullah, on a several-day European tour, concluded his brief visit to
Paris and arrived later in London for talks with British Premier Tony Blair.
Earlier in the day, the King left Madrid after holding talks with Spanish Prime
Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on regional and bilateral issues.
On Euro-Mediterranean relations, the King said the Barcelona process forms a
solid basis for strengthening joint cooperation and a genuine economic,
political, social and cultural partnership.
The King stressed the importance of the G-8 support for the reform process in
the Kingdom.
The King and Zapatero stressed their keenness on developing and enhancing
bilateral relations, noting that the Joint Jordanian-Spanish Committee
constitutes a proper framework to involve the private sector and business
community in the two countries in expanded cooperation.
Talks also covered the possibility of extending additional assistance by Spain
to the Kingdom. Debt swap was too on the meeting's agenda. Zapatero noted that
his country share Jordan's stand vis-?-vis regional issues and the need to put
an end to violence and instability in the region.
King Abdullah's tour will also take him to Germany, where he is to meet
Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.