Jordan Times
Sunday, August 22, 1999
King emphasises signed agreements as key to restarting peace on all tracks
AMMAN (Petra) — His Majesty King Abdullah has called for the implementation of agreements signed between Israel and the Palestinians to pave the way for the resumption of peace negotiations on other Arab-Israeli tracks.
Speaking at a lunch the King and Her Majesty Queen Rania hosted at the Royal Court on Saturday for a visiting U.S. congressional delegation, King Abdullah said it is important for parties to the peace process to seize the present opportunity to revive the peace process on all tracks, particularly on the Palestinian-Israeli track, which is the core of the Middle East conflict.
King Abdullah, who reviewed Jordan's role in helping to achieve a comprehensive and lasting peace, discussed with the delegation Jordan's economic development efforts and its efforts to promote the private sector's role by introducing legislation that would enable Jordan to join the World Trade Organisation. He said these steps should help Jordan attract investors and transfer modern technology to the Kingdom.
King Abdullah on Saturday also received a delegation representing the American Jewish Committee and reviewed peace efforts in the region, noting that Jordan attaches great hope to the resumption of Palestinian-Israeli negotiations and the implementation of the Wye River accords.
Stressing that the people of the region yearn for genuine and lasting peace, King Abdullah warned that the present chance for attaining that goal should not be missed.
“We have to seize the present opportunity to attain peace if we are to fulfil the people's aspirations and hopes,” added the King at the meeting, attended by Royal Court Chief Abdul Karim Kabariti and Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah Khatib.
Lebanon, Syria and the Palestinians have opted for negotiations to achieve the aspired peace, which is an expression of the Arab people's desires, but this stand should be reciprocated by a serious effort on the part of Israel to attain that end, King Abdullah pointed out.
He said the peace process requires the support of the world community, especially the U.S. and Europe which can help the people of the region to attain the aspired peace.
King Abdullah was briefed by delegation members on their meeting with King Mohammad of Morocco and Israeli prime Minister Ehud Barak.
He also reviewed current Jordanian efforts to reform the national economy.
King Abdullah earlier met at the Royal Court with Colonel Mohammad Ould Enjian, assistant commander of the Mauritania armed forces who conveyed his country's appreciation of Jordan's offer to provide Muaritania with expertise in different fields.
The King reviewed with the Mauritanian envoy areas of bilateral cooperation, the exchange of expertise and military training.
King Abdullah also on Saturday met a delegation from the British Vickers military firm and discussed scopes of cooperation between the firm and the Jordan Armed Forces in maintaining and supplying spare parts for the British Challenger tanks which will be delivered to Jordan in the coming few months.