Jordan Times
Thursday, November 8, 2007
British, EU role key in
Annapolis meeting - King
LONDON (Petra) - His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday emphasised the
importance of a British and EU role in supporting efforts to realise peace in
the Middle East.
He said such contribution is vital especially during the current phase of
international diplomacy seeking to render the upcoming peace meeting in the US a
success.
During talks here with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, King Abdullah
stressed the need for parties concerned with the peace process, especially the
Palestinians and Israelis, to realise that missing the opportunity offered by
the Annapolis gathering would put the future of the entire peace process at
risk.
The King said the meeting, called for by US President George W. Bush, should
serve as a starting point for negotiations governed by a fixed time frame. He
added that the international gathering should address final status issues,
which, once resolved, would end the conflict between the Palestinians and
Israelis and lead to a viable and independent Palestinian state living in peace
and security alongside Israel.
King Abdullah said the two-state solution will continue to be the acceptable
Arab and international option for conflict resolution, adding that this solution
would restore the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and pave the way
to a comprehensive resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
The King and the British prime minister also discussed ways to support the
Palestinian Authority and alleviate the difficult living conditions of the
Palestinian people. In this regard, King Abdullah urged the international
community to provide the support needed to the PA to strengthen its institutions
and improve the services it provides to Palestinians.
During the talks, attended by Director of King’s Office Bassem Awadallah,
Jordan's Ambassador to UK Alia Bouran, British Prime Minister's Adviser on
Foreign Affairs Simon McDonald and British Ambassador to Jordan James Watt, King
Abdullah and Brown expressed their keenness to preserve the unity and stability
of Iraq. The King emphasised the need to advance Iraqi national reconciliation
efforts, adding that this process must be inclusive of all Iraqi groups in order
to succeed.
King Abdullah also stressed Jordan's support for Lebanon's unity and
sovereignty, reiterating that holding presidential election in accordance with
the Lebanese constitution would help solve Lebanon's political crisis.
On bilateral relations, the King and the British premier discussed means to
develop ties between both countries, particularly in the economic sphere.
The King thanked Britain for supporting Jordan in its latest negotiations with
the Paris Club as the Kingdom was seeking to alleviate its debt burden. He urged
Britain to support the establishment of an effective partnership between the G-8
and G-11 countries, an initiative led by Jordan, involving middle- and low-
income countries.
Following the meeting, Prime Minister Brown and Mrs Brown held a dinner banquet
in honour of Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania.