Jordan Times
Friday, February 29, 2008
King, UN chief discuss
regional peace
AMMAN (JT) - His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday discussed with UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon the UN’s role in achieving peace and stability in the region
and the world.
During a meeting in New York with the UN chief, the King voiced appreciation for
the international organisation’s contribution to peace efforts in the Middle
East and the assistance it extends to the Palestinian people to alleviate their
hardships under an economic siege imposed by Israel on the Palestinian lands,
especially the Gaza Strip.
During the talks, attended by Her Majesty Queen Rania, the King reviewed
Jordan’s efforts to push forward the peace process and to ensure that the
negotiations under way between the Palestinians and Israelis achieve tangible
results that lead to the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian
state.
The King, who arrived in New York earlier in the day at the start of a working
visit to the US, also commended the role the UN is playing to enhance Iraq’s
stability and security and create better living conditions for the Iraqi people.
On Lebanon, His Majesty said Jordan strongly supports the Arab initiative to end
the political impasse in the country.
Ban hailed Jordan’s participation in UN-led peacekeeping forces and its Mideast
peace efforts.
In statements to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, earlier Thursday, Foreign
Minister Salah Bashir said the King’s visit to the US is part of his efforts to
take advantage of the available opportunities and to encourage the US to fulfil
its obligations in supporting and pushing forward the peace process.
In addition, Bashir said that the visit comes to ensure that the US encourage
the Palestinians and Israelis to reach a peace agreement this year.
The top diplomat said King Abdullah is aware of the perils the region will have
to deal with if the issues of Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon remain without
solutions.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador in Amman David Hale told Petra that the Monarch’s visit
is important in its timing as far as the issues and challenges facing the Middle
East are concerned. The visit also acquires importance from the extraordinary
partnership the two countries have developed.
The US increased its assistance to Jordan by 48 per cent this year, with $663
million in total, including $300 million in military aid, Hale added. The
assistance comes in recognition of Jordan’s efforts in regional peace and
stability on the one hand, and the burden the Kingdom shoulders on the other, he
said.
The diplomat said that his country has also helped Jordan purchase its debts
from Paris Club.
During his US visit, King Abdullah will hold talks at the White House with
President George W. Bush on ways to advance the Palestinian-Israeli peace
negotiations in addition to developments in the Middle East.
In New Jersey, the King will deliver a policy address at Princeton University,
sponsored by Princeton’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International
Affairs.
His Majesty’s talks with members of both Houses of the US Congress will focus on
developing bilateral ties.
King Abdullah is also scheduled to meet with representatives of Muslim and
Jewish organisations to explore the role they can play in fostering peace
opportunities in the region and strengthening bridges of dialogue,
understanding, tolerance and coexistence between the Arab and Muslim worlds and
the West.