Jordan Times
Sunday, February 25, 2007
King urges Palestinians to
meet Quartet conditions
Monarch to push for Mideast peace during visits to US, UK, Saudi Arabia,
Egypt
JT with agency dispatches
King Abdullah on Saturday said the international community, including Arab
countries, expects a Palestinian unity government to adhere to conditions set by
the Quartet of Middle East peace mediators.
“There’s international common ground — not just Western but also Arab and Muslim
— that believes there have to be certain criteria that the new government has to
accept if we’re going to move the process forward,” the King told Israeli
Channel 2 television in an interview aired yesterday.
“It’s not just... the international players, but also the Arab countries are
also expecting the new Palestinian government to adhere to the policies set out
by the Quartet [Russia, the UN, the US and the EU].”
Under a deal signed between Fateh and Hamas in Mecca earlier this month, a new
unity Cabinet was to be formed and committed to honour past peace agreements,
but did not explicitly recognise Israel.
King Abdullah also warned that current efforts to reach an agreement between
Israelis and Palestinians mark the “last opportunity” for peace in the Middle
East.
“What I do feel, really, is the last opportunity for peace, for all of us to
live in peace and harmony,” he said.
“We find ourselves at this very important crossroads, in all our lives, in all
our futures, whether it is Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian or Arab-Israeli.”
He asked: “If we never have a two-state solution then can we ever have peace
between Israelis and Arabs?”
King Abdullah will push for more efforts by Washington in the Middle East peace
process during a visit to the US, where he will address a joint meeting of the
Congress on March 7, according to a Royal Court official.
The Monarch “will articulate Arab vision of comprehensive regional peace based
on the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative”, the official said.
Senior politicians, thought leaders, media representatives and diplomats were
expected to attend the meeting.
King Abdullah will also address the Iraqi crisis as well as ways to end
bloodshed and restore security and stability in the neighbouring country.
During the several-day visit, King Abdullah was expected to hold talks with US
President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
His talks with administration officials will focus on the importance of the US
role in encouraging Palestinians and Israelis to return to negotiations.
King Abdullah will also meet with Arab American, Muslim and Jewish leaders.
On his way to the US, the King will stop in the UK on Wednesday for talks with
British Prime Minister Tony Blair. According to the Royal Court source, talks in
London will follow visits to Egypt and Saudi Arabia.