Jordan Times
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Jordan, Saudi Arabia renew support for peace efforts AMMAN (JT) - Jordan and Saudi Arabia on Saturday reaffirmed support for the Palestinian stand calling on Israel to enter into talks over final status issues.
His Majesty King Abdullah and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Ben Abdul Aziz said at a meeting in Jeddah that Israel and the Palestinians should engage in talks over Jerusalem, the refugees and borders to ensure the success of “any efforts or preparations to achieve a just and permanent solution to the Palestinian cause”.
On Wednesday, His Majesty said during a meeting in Amman with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that the outcome of these talks is key to the success of the US-proposed international Mideast conference.
The international conference, called for by US President George W. Bush, is expected during November to push forward the Middle East peace process towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on Palestinian land in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
The two leaders stressed that peace efforts should continue on the basis of international resolutions and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which offered Israel normal ties with the Arabs in return for withdrawal from lands it occupied during the 1967 war.
King Abdullah briefed the Saudi monarch on the outcome of recent meetings and communications with several leaders in the region, including Abbas.
On Iraq, King Abdullah and the Saudi leader renewed their support for efforts seeking to realise national reconciliation among Iraqis.
At the bilateral level, the two leaders stressed their keenness to take further cooperation in various sectors to the next level, especially in the economic and commercial fields.
During the talks, King Abdullah, who returned home later in the day, voiced appreciation for Saudi Arabia's continued support for Jordan, which, he said, helps the Kingdom implement envisaged development programmes.
In an interview with Jordan Television aired Friday, the King voiced optimism regarding the future of the region despite the grave situations in Iraq and Palestine.
He said Bush’s invitation for holding the international peace conference “was the result of Jordan's numerous efforts with Arab states and other friendly states, especially following the Arab summit held in Riyadh, to put the peace process back on the right track”.
“We consider this conference, in which Jordan will participate, a positive step towards realising the peace to which we aspire.”
The King urged the Palestinians to solve their differences and reunify their ranks.
“The separation of Gaza from the West Bank is unacceptable at both the Palestinian and Arab levels.”
On the domestic front, the King stressed that Jordan is committed to holding a free and fair parliamentary elections, slated for November 20, and to enhance democracy and freedom so as to further enhance public participation in the decision-making process.
In order to address economic concerns, the King highlighted the need for an integrated social safety net that guarantees basic health and comprehensive social services, housing and a decent life for every citizen.