Jordan Times
Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Regional issues focus of Dead Sea symposium
DEAD SEA (Petra) — Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah
Khatib and Arab League Secretary General Amr Musa on Monday took part in a
regional symposium on Middle East issues organised by the Council for
International Understanding.
The council is holding its 24th meeting at the Dead Sea today.
Participants at the symposium, attended by several Middle East political
experts, discussed the peace process, the issue of Islam and the West, the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the situation in Iraq.
Khatib referred to political and economic reforms in Jordan, which are based on
His Majesty King Abdullah's vision.
“The main aspects of economic reforms included the Free Trade Agreement with the
US, economic partnership with the EU and the free trade zones established with
other Arab countries,” Khatib said.
He said the only way to bring an end to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is
through negotiations.
Commenting on the relationship between Islam and the West, Khatib presented the
main points of the Amman Message, initiated by King Abdullah to reintroduce
Islam to the world as a faith of moderation, understanding and dialogue.
Issued in November last year and translated into several languages, the document
spells out Jordan's understanding of Islam as a religion that rejects violence
and promotes dialogue and constructive interaction with other cultures.
Musa discussed the current situations in Syria, Lebanon and Darfur in Sudan, as
well as the Iranian nuclear issue, highlighting the Arab League's efforts in
this regard.
Musa told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, that an Iraqi reconciliation conference
would be held in Baghdad next month after the formation of the Iraqi government.
“The first round of the conference was held in Cairo and the second will be in
Baghdad,” he said.