Jordan Times
Friday, September 16, 2005
King talks bilateral,
Mideast issues with world leaders
NEW YORK (Petra) — His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday discussed bilateral
relations with Saudi Crown Prince Sultan Ben Abdul Aziz.
King Abdullah and Prince Sultan also held talks on issues on the agenda of the
UN World Summit. The two leaders stressed that Arab countries should coordinate
their stand on such issues to serve the interests of their peoples.
The King discussed the same topics with Bahraini Crown Prince Salman Ben Hamad
Al Khalifa, Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad Ben Khalifa Al Thani and Sri Lankan
President Chandrika Kumaratunga.
At his New York residence, King Abdullah separately received Danish Prime
Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Deputy German Chancellor and Foreign Minister
Joschka Fischer, US Assistant Secretary of State David Welsh and Quartet envoy
James Wolfensohn, who follows up on the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. During the
meetings, the King discussed the latest developments in the Middle East and ways
to push forward the peace process, in addition to the role of the international
community in the aftermath of the withdrawal.
The King said the Israeli pullout should be followed by withdrawal from the West
Bank in line with the roadmap, leading to the establishment of an independent
Palestinian state.
International support was also needed to help restore security and stability in
Iraq, King Abdullah said.
Wolfensohn later told the Jordan News Agency, Petra, that the most important
step after the Gaza pullout was to help the Palestinian Authority (PA) take
control of the Strip.
The envoy highlighted the need to address the socio-economic problems facing the
Palestinians, such as unemployment, stressing that jobs should be created, not
only for Gaza residents but also for Palestinians in the West Bank.
Wolfensohn said it was important for the international donors to coordinate a
clear programme with the PA to create jobs, build housing and infrastructure
projects and tackle all problems related to the daily life of Palestinians, who
should see promises translated into facts on the ground.
The Palestinians may receive $500-$700 million in assistance to implement these
projects, Wolfensohn said.
The Quartet envoy praised King Abdullah's “balanced stand” on the Mideast
conflict and his continuous support for the Palestinians.