Jordan Times
Thursday, April 15, 2004
King off to Washington
AMMAN (JT) — His Majesty King Abdullah on
Wednesday left for London en route to the US for talks with President George W.
Bush on the Mideast peace process and the situation in Iraq.
Talks between King Abdullah and Bush will also focus on bilateral relations,
particularly in the investment and economic fields.
The King will also discuss with congressmen means to support peace efforts and
US assistance to Jordan.
Last week, King Abdullah told Bush in a letter that Jordan believes the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict should be solved through full implementation of the
roadmap, which envisions a viable Palestinian state by 2005.
In the letter, the King stressed that Israel's unilateral plan to withdraw from
Gaza should be part of the roadmap. The Monarch hoped that the international
community will help the Palestinians build their national institutions. He added
that Jordan will spare no effort to empower the Palestinians to take control of
the situation in the aftermath of a planned Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
During the visit, King Abdullah will address a meeting of the San
Francisco-based Commonwealth Club at a ceremony marking its 101st anniversary.
He will also deliver a speech at the National Press Club during a “special
evening newsmaker” and will speak on “Reform in the Arab World.”
As part of the King's efforts to introduce Jordan as a model of youth
empowerment, four excelling university students will accompany the King during
his US visit. King Abdullah is scheduled to meet key US businessmen for talks on
investment opportunities in Jordan. He will chair joint meetings between
Jordanian businessmen and US media and IT leaders.
The King is also due to meet members of Arab-American organisations.
The Jordanian delegation includes General Saad Kheir, the King's adviser on
security issues, director of the General Intelligence Department and president
of National Security Council, Royal Court Minister Samir Rifai, Aqaba Special
Economic Zone Authority Chief Commissioner Akel Biltaji, Minister of Planning
and International Cooperation Bassem Awadallah, and Minister of Information and
Communications Technology Fawwaz Zu'bi. Prime Minister Faisal Fayez and Foreign
Minister Marwan Muasher will later join the King in Washington.
HRH Prince Faisal was sworn in as Regent.