Jordan Times
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
King, Mubarak Say Preparations for Peace Meeting Essential
AMMAN (JT) - His Majesty King Abdullah and
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday underscored the need to prepare
properly for a US-proposed Mideast meeting, expected this fall.
During talks in Alexandria, the two leaders said it was necessary to create the
right atmosphere for the Palestinians and the Israelis to resume negotiations.
Jordan has called on Israel to enter talks with the Palestinians over thorny
final status issues like Jerusalem, borders and refugees and to come up with
tangible results ahead of the meeting, which was called for by President George
W. Bush.
The two leaders voiced hope that efforts under way to bring about peace and
stability in the Middle East would “render concrete results” that would, in
turn, ensure the success of the peace meeting.
They described the proposed peace conference as a “positive step to reactivate
the peace process and realise a comprehensive and just peace that helps restore
the region’s security and stability on the basis of international resolutions
and the Arab Peace Initiative”, which offers Israel full normal ties in return
for an end to the occupation.
During the talks, which continued over a lunch banquet, the two leaders
reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian Authority’s procedures to rebuild
national institutions and protect the interests and the unity of the
Palestinians.
Talks between the King and Mubarak also covered the political crisis in Lebanon.
They called on all Lebanese political groups to resume dialogue and work to
overcome their differences, so as to achieve national accord and preserve the
unity and sovereignty of their country.
They extended a similar call to Iraqi politicians, who, they said, should
cooperate to safeguard the unity of Iraq and ensure the participation of all
Iraqis in the political process.
On bilateral ties, the two leaders expressed their keenness to go ahead with
efforts to enhance their ties and cement cooperation in all fields, especially
in economic, commercial and investment domains.
Following talks between King Abdullah and Mubarak, Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah
Khatib said in press statements that the two leaders discussed in detail all
challenges facing the region, chief among which is the situation in Palestine
and the suffering of the Palestinian people due to harsh living conditions.
His Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Aboul Gheit told reporters that the two countries
were looking forward to the upcoming visit by US Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice to Israel and Palestine.
Asked if there was a joint Jordanian-Egyptian vision that will be presented
during the international peace conference, Aboul Gheit said the Arab Peace
Initiative remains the basis of the Arab position on the conflict with Israel,
noting that Palestinian-Israeli communications are continuing.
Khatib today heads the Jordanian delegation that will take part in the 128th
meeting of the Arab League council which will be held at the ministerial level.
The peace issue will top the meeting’s agenda.
King Abdullah, who returned home late Tuesday, has been engaged in a series of
activities to garner support for the peace process before the fall meeting.
He held talks over the issue with French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Monday and
Saudi King Abdullah Ben Abdul Aziz the day before. Also Sunday, he met with
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi in Amman, reiterating in all encounters his
message that only negotiations leading to the establishment of a viable
Palestinian state are the solution to the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian
conflict.