Jordan Times
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Time to Break the Deadlock, King Tells Abbas, Olmert
Petra, June 22 (Petra)--His Majesty King Abdullah
said it was time to break the deadlock in Middle East peace process.
During a meeting in Petra today with Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud
Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert -- the first meeting between the
two leaders since Olmert's election in April -- the King stressed the importance
of confidence-building measures that would facilitate a resumption of peace
talks between Palestinians and Israelis.
King Abdullah said that peace negotiations needed to resume and move forward on
the basis of the Road Map, which, he stressed, has outlined the only realistic
plan to achieve an agreement that would result in the establishment of a viable,
independent Palestinian state living side-by-side with a secure Israel.
The King said any military escalation could bring to a halt efforts to revive
the peace process.
King Abdullah also expressed Jordan's concern about the worsening economic and
humanitarian situation in the Palestinian areas, saying that the situation could
adversely affect prospects for a resumption of peace negotiations.
Major foreign donors have suspended direct financial assistance to the
Palestinian authority since January elections in the Palestinian territories,
which returned a Hamas-led government to power. The loss of aid has adversely
affected the lives of millions of Palestinians, especially public sector
employees.
The Middle East Quartet last week announced its decision to release US$126
million of EU funds to the Palestinians through the office of the presidency.
King Abdullah described the measure as a positive step. However, he added, that
urgent measures with an immediate and tangible impact on Palestinian lives were
also necessary.
The King urged Olmert to facilitate the flow of funds and other aid, saying that
sustained humanitarian assistance was necessary to alleviate Palestinian
suffering and preserve Palestinian unity. Misery and chaos in the Palestinian
territories would adversely affect the prospects for a resumption of
negotiations, he added.
Ahead of the breakfast, King Abduallah received Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas in Aqaba. Abbas briefed the King on the latest developments in the
Palestinian territories and on the latest Israeli measures.
The breakfast meeting fell on the second day of the Nobel Laureates conference,
organized by the King Abdullah Fund for Development and the Elie Wiesel
Foundation for Humanity and has brought together dozens of Nobel Laureates and
internationally renowned public figures to discuss challenges to global security
and stability, especially in the fields of nuclear non-proliferation, education,
health and poverty and economic empowerment. A special session later today will
be dedicated to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. As part of the
conference's focus on peace, Wiesel yesterday hosted a conversation with
President Abbas and conference participants; he will hold another today with
Prime Minister Olmert.