Jordan Times
Tuesday, April 4, 2006
Jordan urges Quartet to revive peace talks
AMMAN, April 4 (Petra) - Prime Minister Marouf
Bakhit on Monday urged the Mideast Quartet members, particularly the US, to help
the Palestinians and Israelis resume peace talks.
Bakhit told US Assistant Secretary of State David Welch at a meeting that such
negotiations should lead to a just and permanent peace in line with
international resolutions, including the roadmap and the Arab Peace Initiative,
the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
The Quartet of the US, Russia, the EU and UN backs the roadmap, which envisions
the creation of a Palestinian state in coexistence with Israel. The 2002 Arab
initiative offers Israel normal relations in return for its withdrawal from
territories occupied in 1967 and return of Palestinian refugees.
Bakhit called on the international community to continue its assistance to the
Palestinians. The second shipment of Jordanian aid relief to the Palestinians in
less than a month left yesterday for the territories.
The Quartet warned last week that aid to Hamas was at risk unless it changes its
policies towards Israel. Washington froze its aid to the Palestinian Authority
after Hamas won a national election on January 25. And last week the US and
Canada said they were suspending contact with the Palestinian government formed
by Hamas.
Welch, a career diplomat who served in key positions involved in the
Arab-Israeli conflict and the peace process, praised King Abdullah's role at
regional and international levels as well as his efforts to push forward the
Middle East peace process.
He later told reporters that Quartet's stand on Hamas has not changed, adding
that the US would continue humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people.
He added that Washington backs the peace process and supports a two-state
solution to the conflict.
Welch stressed that the US wants to see "a proof of sincere desire" for peace,
according to Petra.
According to Agence France-Presse, no statement was issued to the press by
representatives of the Quartet after their meeting in Amman on Sunday.
The talks, announced by Washington, took place behind closed-doors at an
undisclosed location. Unconfirmed press reports said the meeting was held at the
US embassy.
Late Sunday, Petra said the representatives of the Quartet — including Welch and
fellow US envoy Elliot Abrams, European envoy Marc Otte, UN's Alvaro De Soto and
Russian foreign ministry envoy Sergei Kazlov — met Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah
Khatib.