Jordan Times
Tuesday, October 16, 2001
King, Chirac want urgent moves for Mideast peace
PARIS (Agencies) — His Majesty King Abdullah and French President Jacques Chirac agreed Monday on the urgent need to restore the Middle East peace process during a meeting and working lunch here.
King Abdullah underscored the need to take a two-pronged approach that would include “recognition of the principle of Palestinian statehood and guarantees of security for the state of Israel.”
The King said a comprehensive and durable peace should restore all the legitimate Arab rights and the right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on their national soil with Jerusalem as its capital, stressing that this was the only way to reestablish security and stability in the Middle East.
Calling on the international community to act as a team to bring about peace, the King said the role of France and the European Union is very important to help the concerned parties reach peace based on UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.
“Now is the time for real steps in the peace process,” said Chirac who noted that US President George W. Bush was signalling a new willingness to engage in the peace process. He called Bush's recent declarations about the prospect of a Palestinian state “very important.”
King Abdullah and Chirac held a 30-minute meeting at the Elysee Palace before sitting down for a working lunch.
The talks in Paris coincided with a meeting in London between Prime Minister Tony Blair and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat at which the British premier asserted support for a Palestinian state.
Bush has also come out in favour of creating a Palestinian state if it recognises Israel's right to exist and agrees to live peacefully by its side.
Chirac spokeswoman Catherine Colonna noted that the French president believes that “a convergence of efforts is key to ensure progress in the peace process.”
The King and Chirac had an exchange of views on the international situation following the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington that led to an air campaign on Afghanistan.
Chirac welcomed Jordan's “strong reaction” in condemning the Sept. 11 terror attacks on New York and Washington, according to Colonna.
“France and Jordan are united in the fight against terrorism, which is never justified,” Chirac said, according to his spokeswoman. “France entirely shares Jordan's concern that there must be no confusion between Islam and terrorism.”
At the meeting, King Abdullah warned against linking terrorist acts with Islam which he said was a religion of tolerance and peace. He said the war on terrorism should not be interpreted as a war between civilisations.
The King was in Paris as part of a European tour focusing on US strikes on Afghanistan and ways to revive stalled Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations.
Before visiting Paris, the King met leaders of Germany, Italy and Turkey. His Majesty visited the United States on Sept. 28. He is to meet with British Prime Minister Tony Blair in London on Tuesday.
King Abdullah also discussed with Chirac bilateral relations and economic cooperation during a meeting with French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin at a separate meeting attended by Finance Minister Michel Marto and the Director of the General Intelligence Department General Saad Kheir.
The Jordan News Agency Petra quoted the two sides as expressing satisfaction with the progress in Franco-Jordanian economic relations and investments.
According to French Ambassador to Jordan Bernard Emie France has become Jordan's leading economic partner in the field of investments over the past three years. He said French investments in Jordan total $800 million.