Jordan Times
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Jordan says dialogue only path
to solution
By Mohammad Ghazal
AMMAN - Foreign Minister Salah Bashir arrived in Cairo on Saturday to take part
in today’s emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers to discuss the situation
in Lebanon, as Jordan urged dialogue among the Lebanese forces to end the
ongoing crisis.
Also on Saturday, a total of 212 Jordanians, of whom 200 are students, arrived
in the Kingdom yesterday afternoon from Beirut, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
Nassar Habashneh told The Jordan Times on Saturday.
According to the Jordanian embassy in Beirut, there are about 630 Jordanian
students enrolled in Lebanon’s universities, including the American University
of Beirut and the Lebanese American University.
Continuing with cancelling trips to Beirut for the fourth day in a row, citing
growing violence and closure of Beirut airport, Royal Jordanian called off its
flight to the Lebanese capital on Saturday.
The national carrier, which operates three daily flights to Beirut, cancelled
the first flight last Wednesday, the RJ media manager and spokesperson, Basil
Kilani, said yesterday.
Decisions regarding trips to Beirut will be made day-by-day depending on the
situation in Lebanon and in coordination with the Lebanese airport authorities,
Kilani said.
On Friday, His Majesty King Abdullah discussed with Saudi Arabia’s King
Abdullah, in a telephone call, the latest developments in Lebanon, a Royal Court
statement said.
The two leaders voiced concern over the latest developments and their
repercussions on the future of Lebanon, stressing the need to resort to reason
to protect the greater interests of Lebanon and preserve its unity and
sovereignty.
The Monarch said it was important that all Lebanese forces work to settle the
situation and restore stability to the country, noting that dialogue leading to
consensual solutions is the only exit from the current crisis.
His Majesty also emphasised Jordan’s support for the Arab League efforts,
reiterating that the initiative the umbrella organisation launched entails an
acceptable solution to the crisis, which has taken a violent turn since
Wednesday.
The initiative calls for electing army leader General Michel Sleiman as
president and forming a national unity government.
Meanwhile, Bashir stressed on Friday that Jordan is watching developments in
Lebanon closely, warning against any further escalation.
Bashir was quoted by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, as urging self-restraint and
dialogue among the rival camps in Lebanon, reaffirming Jordan’s support for the
legitimate government and constitutional institutions.
Upon his arrival in Cairo, Bashir met with Arab League Secretary General Amr
Musa to discuss the Lebanon crisis.