Jordan Times
Monday, July 02, 2007
Serious negotiations needed to revive peace process
Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit and UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Michael Williams on Sunday exchanged views on the
latest developments in the Palestinian territories.
During the meeting, Bakhit underlined the importance of reviving the peace process through serious negotiations, based on a specific
timetable, so that the Palestinians’ legitimate rights would be restored, including the establishment of an independent state on their
national soil with Jerusalem as its capital and resolving the refugee question.
Bakhit stressed the importance of seizing the opportunity provided by the Arab Peace Initiative to achieve regional peace.
The 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, relaunched during the Riyadh based Arab summit, offers Israel normal relations with all the Arab countries
in return for Israel’s withdrawal from territories occupied after 1967, as well as an agreed solution to the refugee problem and the
establishment of a Palestinian state.
The Premier reiterated Jordan’s support for the Palestinian Authority (PA) and its President Mahmoud Abbas, calling on the international
community to back the PA and its institutions and boost Palestinian unity.
Also yesterday, the Premier warned against deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip.
He stressed that the international community should work to preclude the occurrence of a humanitarian catastrophe due to the lack of food
and a shortage in basic services.
Bakhit noted that the Israeli government should keep its pledges as soon as possible by releasing Palestinian prisoners and withheld taxes
and facilitating the movement of people and goods through Israeli crossings.
Williams briefed Bakhit on the outcome of his latest visit to the Palestinian territories and talks with Prime Minister Salam Fayad and
Palestinian officials, stressing his keenness on maintaining contacts and coordination with the Jordanian government, especially with regard
to the developments in the territories.