H.E. Dr. Marwan Muasher
Minister of Foreign Affairs

Statement by the Foreign Minister on Bush-Sharon talks

Petra News Agency
April 15th 2004

Amman, April 15 (Petra)--Foreign Minister, Dr. Marwan Muasher issued the following statement:-

In view of the US-Israeli talks that were held yesterday, the statement of the US President George Bush as well as the message sent by the US Administration to the Israeli government, the Jordanian government would like to explain the following facts.

First.. His Majesty King Abdullah II expressed Jordan's position with regard to the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, in a letter he sent to
the US president on April 8. The King underlined the importance of ensuring that this withdrawal will be part of the roadmap, and would lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state.

His Majesty also stressed the importance for the US administration not to give any concessions with regard to the final status issues especially the borders, refugees, settlements and the separation wall. The King also called on the US administration to give guarantees regarding these issues including the issuance of a UN Security Council resolutions that affirms that the two states solution, is the only accepted solution for the peace process.

Second.. The Jordanian government reaffirms its commitment to the Arab initiative which forms the general from for solving the Arab- Israeli conflict, as well as the roadmap which forms a relevant mechanism to end the Israeli occupation of all Palestinian lands and establish an independent Palestinian state on the basis of the 1967 borders.

The Jordanian government also reiterates its support to the return of refugees and reach a solution for the issue of refugees in accordance with resolution 194.

Third.. The US president announced during his press conference yesterday that the US will not prejudge the final status issues and that Jordan, while reaffirming this position, stresses that these issues should be solved directly by the concerned parties in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions 242, 338, 1397 and 1515, the Arab initiative and the roadmap.

His Majesty the King will affirm this position during his meeting with the US president next week. The Jordanian government, while it adheres to international legitimacy resolutions to ensure the Israeli withdrawal and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, will continue coordination with the Palestinian side and the Arab and international parties to achieve this goal.