Jordan Times
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
King reviews progress in
Palestinian-Israeli negotiations with Abbas
AMMAN (JT) - His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday reviewed with Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas progress in peace negotiations between the Palestinians
and Israelis and efforts to push these talks forward.
The King reiterated Jordan's support for the Palestinian Authority's efforts to
realise substantial progress in the peace process through serious negotiations
that address final status issues in accordance with a comprehensive plan.
Also yesterday, the Monarch sent a letter to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on
regional developments and Jordanian-Egyptian and inter-Arab coordination on
current issues in the Middle East.
Royal Court Chief Bassem Awadallah, who presented the letter to the Egyptian
president, also conveyed His Majesty's greetings to Mubarak.
Egyptian presidential spokesman Suleiman Awwad said the letter focused on
developments in the Palestinian issue, the situation in the occupied
territories, efforts by Jordan and Egypt to contain the situation and current
negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis.
At yesterday’s meeting with Abbas, His Majesty urged Israel to respond
positively to efforts to bring about a just and permanent peace by halting
unilateral policies and practices, chief among them the expansion of
settlements, lifting the siege imposed on the Palestinians, opening the border
crossing and removing barriers.
The Monarch also highlighted the responsibility the international community
shoulders in continuing to support and encourage the Palestinians and Israelis
to arrive at a final solution to the Palestinian issue, the core conflict in the
region.
The final solution should be in line with the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative and the
international resolutions, leading to the creation of an independent Palestinian
state on their land, King Abdullah said.
Abbas also briefed the Monarch on the results of his meeting with Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday as part of efforts to push forward the peace
process.
In press statements following his meeting with the King, Abbas said he is
scheduled to visit Washington and Moscow to discuss the agenda of an
international conference to be held in Russia, adding that his talks with US
President George W. Bush will focus on final status issues and the situation in
Palestine.
Abbas said he discussed with King Abdullah the issues he will look into during
his visit to Moscow and the US as part of coordinating efforts.
Asked if a truce was reached with the Israelis, the Palestinian president said:
"No truce was reached so far and we want a truce and I talked with the Israeli
prime minister about this issue."
Also yesterday, Foreign Minister Salah Bashir met with his Palestinian
counterpart Riyadh Maliki and the accompanying delegation.
Talks focussed on means to push the peace process forward, the latest regional
developments and the challenges facing the Palestinian government.
Bashir stressed the importance of unifying the Palestinian position in light of
the current critical and difficult conditions in order to realise Palestinian
aspirations to establish their independent state on their national soil.