Jordan Times
Monday, November 26, 2007
‘Israel should not miss
opportunity’
Agencies
Jordan and Saudi Arabia called on Israel Sunday to take genuine and serious
steps to demonstrate willingness to reach peace and bring an end to the
decades-long Arab-Israeli conflict.
By doing so, Israel would have the chance to live in stability and security with
its Arab neighbours, the two countries stressed.
During a meeting in Riyadh between His Majesty King Abdullah and King Abdullah
of Saudi Arabia, both leaders discussed political developments in the Middle
East and efforts to render Annapolis peace meeting a success.
King Abdullah briefed the Saudi leader on the outcome of contacts he has made
over the past days to develop a unified Arab stand ahead of the US-hosted
gathering, which His Majesty described as a true opportunity to create an
appropriate atmosphere for the Palestinians and Israelis to launch serious
negotiations and realise tangible results leading to the creation of an
independent Palestinian state.
The two leaders stressed the need to best utilise the meeting to reach permanent
solutions to final status issues, chief among which is Jerusalem, the borders
and the refugees in accordance with a specific time frame and clear follow-up
mechanisms.
King Abdullah and the Saudi leader emphasised that settling the Arab-Israeli
conflict and realising a just and comprehensive peace should be based on
relevant international resolutions and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative.
During the talks, which continued over a lunch banquet in honour of His Majesty
and the accompanying delegation, the two leaders stressed the need for
coordinating efforts to activate joint Arab cooperation and work and said it was
important to continue to stand up to the challenges facing the Arab nation.
On Iraq, the two leaders emphasised their support for efforts aimed to preserve
unity, stability and sovereignty of this Arab country.
Talks also covered Lebanon, with the two leaders calling on Lebanese political
streams and powers to resort to serious dialogue that leads to preserving the
security, stability and sovereignty of their country and reaching a consensus
over the presidential election.
On bilateral ties, the two leaders stressed keenness to boost cooperation in
various fields and exert efforts to enhance them.
The Jordanian delegation included Royal Court Chief Bassem Awadallah, the King’s
Adviser for Tribal Affairs Sharif Fawwaz Zaben, General Intelligence Department
Director Lieutenant General Mohammad Dahabi and Jordan's Ambassador in Riyadh
Qaftan Majali.
Also Sunday, the King received a phone call from Syrian President Bashar Assad.
They discussed preparations for the Annapolis meeting and bilateral ties.
Meanwhile, a delegation comprising several officials, headed by Minister of
Foreign Affairs Salah Bashir, left for the US on Sunday to take part in the
Annapolis meeting.
According to an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the delegation will
underscore the importance of launching comprehensive and clear negotiations that
addresses all the aspects of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Syria to participate
Syria will send its deputy foreign minister to the US-sponsored Mideast peace
conference because the issue of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights has been
added to the agenda, the state-run news agency said Sunday.
The agency, SANA, said Syria will be represented at the conference in Annapolis
by Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad. The decision was made "after the Syria
track was added to the conference agenda", the agency said.
Syria had said it will attend only if the conference discusses the Golan
Heights, the strategic plateau occupied by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war and
later annexed.
Damascus did not explain why it will not be sending its foreign minister, like
other Arab participants, but the decision appears to indicate that it is not
entirely confident the conference will address its concerns over the Golan
Heights.
A spokeswoman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Israel saw the
announcement as a positive development.
"The meetings are clearly about the Israeli-Palestinian process, but could be
the beginning of new avenues to peace in the Middle East," Miri Eisin said.
But she and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni disputed Syria's account of the
conference agenda and insisted that the Golan was never explicitly mentioned.
White House press secretary, Dana Perino, also reiterated that the Golan issue
is "not specifically on the agenda" but said attendees will be able to freely
raise issues.
US President George W. Bush's National Security Council spokesman Gordon
Johndroe, meanwhile, reacted to Syria's announcement by focusing on the
widespread participation at the meeting.
"This large number signals broad support for Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts,"
he said.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was to meet Sunday with
Israeli and Palestinian negotiators to hammer out a joint document to be
discussed at the upcoming Middle East peace talks, officials said.
Rice was to hold talks later Sunday with Livni and the chief Palestinian
negotiator Ahmed Qureia, Israeli and Palestinian officials said.
Qureia "will meet with Livni and Rice to try to reach a joint document which
will be presented to the Annapolis meeting" on Tuesday, Palestinian spokesman
Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP.