Jordan Times
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Abbas committed to peace, King
tells Bush
WASHINGTON (Petra) — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday said Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas was committed to peace and ready to tackle security
issues.
Reiterating support for the Palestinian leader as an “active peace partner,”
King Abdullah told the press after his White House talks with US President
George W. Bush that he was optimistic that Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister
Ariel Sharon will move forward with the peace process.
“I'm very supportive of President Abbas,” King Abdullah said. “I think he is a
man of his word and I think you will see him give 110 per cent to deal with the
security issues and to push the process forward. I truly believe that in this
man Prime Minister Sharon has a partner for peace and I am very optimistic that
between the two leaders the process will go forward and go forward positively.”
King Abdullah described his talks with Bush as “very fruitful,” saying that he
and the president seek to “make the Middle East a better place.” “We had the
chance to discuss the issues of the peace process, how we can move that forward
and obviously our commitment to regional reform. And, as always, we've come away
with some very good ideas and a decent way of being able to look at the future,”
the Monarch said.
Bush praised the King's leadership “in the midst of a part of the world that is
changing, changing for the better.”
He voiced appreciation for the King's understanding of the need for reform and
“his clear vision that the world needs to jointly fight terror.”
Bush added that Jordan has become an example of reform, stressing that King
Abdullah managed “to put mechanisms in place that respond to the voice of the
people.” He said the US is looking forward to hearing the results of the
upcoming Arab summit in Algeria.
On the Palestinian-Israeli issue, Bush said “the role of the United States will
be to continue to urge both parties to make the sacrifices and necessary
sacrifice... meaning that Israel must withdraw from the settlements... there
must be contiguous territory into which a Palestinian state can grow.” On their
part, Bush added, the Palestinians have to continue efforts to fight violence,
while the Arab world must work together to help the Palestinians build
democratic institutions.
He said he believes that the Mideast peace process has made progress. “... I
believe peace is within hand and that the United States government would do that
which is necessary to help move the process forward,” the president said.
“I believe President Abbas is desirous of developing a state that will live
side-by-side with Israel in peace. And we recognise that the Palestinians need
help in consolidating and training security forces to defeat the terrorists who
would like to stop the march of freedom.”
During the talks with Bush, the King reiterated that the February Sharm El
Sheikh summit provided the opportunity for a sincere relaunch of trust-building
measures to resume peace talks and implement the roadmap. The recently held
London conference, he added, offered another opportunity by mobilising
international support for the Palestinian leadership and its institutions to
play an active role — which is likely to enhance chances for peace and the
establishment of a viable Palestinian state, bringing an end to the suffering of
the Palestinian people, the King said.
Peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved unless Arabs restore their
legitimate rights, Israel withdraws from the occupied territories and the
Palestinians establish their independent state, the King told Bush.
He added that the Arab Peace Initiative will top the agenda of the Algiers
summit.
The King urged Washington to take practical steps towards a peaceful settlement
in the Middle East.
On Iraq, he also called on the international community to immediately take steps
to restore peace and stability in the country, ensure its territorial integrity
and empower its people to build a secure future.
Meanwhile, King Abdullah reiterated the need to fully implement UN resolutions,
including 1559, 242 and 338. On Lebanon, the King said Amman was in favour of
free elections and supported all efforts aimed at safeguarding its independence,
security and stability. He also urged maintaining the brotherly ties between
Syria and Lebanon.
During the talks, King Abdullah said the international community should work
shoulder-to-shoulder in the fight against terrorism, urging the world to build
bridges of understanding and cooperation.
At the domestic level, he highlighted Jordan's structural changes to develop
democratic life through wider participation in the decision making process.
The King thanked the US for its assistance to Jordan, saying that this support
helps the Kingdom carry out its development plans and invest in human resources
amidst difficult regional circumstances.
King Abdullah also met Tuesday with US National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley
on regional developments and is expected Wednesday to hold talks with Vice
President Dick Cheney. He is also expected to discuss US assistance to Jordan
with leading lawmakers.
On Monday, King Abdullah met with US educational leaders and members of the
King's Academy's board of trustees.
King Abdullah briefed the meeting on his vision about the King's Academy under
construction in Jordan as a boarding school offering secondary education.
He said the school will play a key role in improving the quality of education
and preparing young leaders in line with state-of-the-art teaching
methodologies.
King Abdullah laid the foundation stone for the project in July last year. The
school will start operation in 2006, teaching 9th and 10th grades.
The academy is patterned after the Deerfield Academy in the United States, in
which the Monarch received his high school education.
Adopting the US high school style curricula, the academy will offer studies in
arts, athletics, leadership, community development and community service whilst
also conforming to local culture and values.