Jordan Times
Tuesday, December 7, 2004
King meets President Bush, discuss regional and bilateral issues
WASHINGTON (Petra) — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday voiced appreciation of the US' efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East and its support for Jordan.
In statements to the press following his meeting
with US President George W. Bush at the White House, King Abdullah underlined
Bush's commitment in the past years towards achieving peace and his efforts to
determine the future of the Palestinians, Israelis and Arabs.
The King stressed the need to revive the peace process and find a permanent,
comprehensive and balanced solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict,
ensuring the establishment of a viable, democratic and sovereign Palestinian
state, and genuine security for Israel.
During his meeting with Bush, the King said the roadmap to the Middle East peace
is the only opportunity to entrench peace in the region.
He highlighted the role the US can play in establishing peace and security in
the region through reviving the peace process and encouraging the Palestinians
and the Israelis to make courageous strides towards peace.
The King stressed that realising the Palestinian aspirations for a state on
their national soil ensures peace and stability in the entire Middle East,
including Israel.
The new Palestinian leadership should receive support and assistance for its
efforts to conduct the upcoming election and build up and fortify Palestinian
institutions, the Monarch said at the meeting.
This leadership, he said, must be empowered to carry out its mission and
shoulder the burdens in the coming era.
He urged Israel's commitment towards facilitating the election, through which
the Palestinians should be free to choose their representative leadership that
can be an effective partner in the peace process.
The King underlined the responsibility of the international community to make
swift moves to remove the barriers standing in the face of the peace process. He
also highlighted the need for the two parties of the conflict to start dialogue
and go back to the negotiating table.
For his part, Bush said he would continue working with King Abdullah to help
create peace in the Middle East.
King Abdullah, meanwhile, told reporters that he and Bush talked about Iraq and
the need to work together to get through the interim period in the country as
soon as possible and achieve a better future for Iraqis.
He emphasised the need to support the efforts exerted by the Iraqi government to
hold free elections that involve the entire spectra of people.
He stressed that Iraq is for all Iraqis and that holding free, comprehensive and
undivided elections is the only way to empower them to determine their future.
He said Iraqis need international support to restore security and stability,
rebuild their country and regain the regional and international status.
The King reiterated Jordan's full commitment to helping the Iraqi people
overcome their plight, maintain the territorial integrity of their country and
rebuild their institutions.
"We are looking forward to seeing an independent, violence-free Iraq, whose
sects live in peace and stability," the King said.
Bush said at the presser that the Iraqi elections must be held on time because
"this is in the best interest of the Iraqi people."
On bilateral ties, King Abdullah called on the US to extend further support for
Jordan. He said the Kingdom has gone a long way in implementing political and
socio-economic reforms and enhance democracy in the country, where justice,
equality and equal opportunity are guaranteed. Jordan, he said, has become a
model to follow in the region.
He added that the administrative and socio-economic reforms in Jordan are being
implemented in parallel with political development to empower the Jordanian
people to deal with developments with a sense of responsibility.
For his part, Bush commended such achievements, citing the economic growth in
the past years as a major accomplishment.
The talks were attended by Prime Minister Faisal Fayez, the King's Adviser on
Security Affairs, Director of the General Intelligence Department and President
of the National Security Council General Saad Kheir, Royal Court Minister Samir
Rifai, Foreign Minister Hani Mulki, Minister of Planning and International
Cooperation Bassem Awadallah, and Jordan's Ambassador to Washington Karim Kawar.
At his Washington residence, the King separately received National Security
Adviser Condoleezza Rice and Assistant Secretary of State for the Near Easterm
Affairs William Burns.