Jordan Times
Friday, September 25, 2009
‘US commitment vital to peace
efforts’
AMMAN (JT) - Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Judeh on Thursday urged more US
administration commitment to a just and comprehensive peaceful resolution to the
Middle East conflict.
He reiterated such a resolution should be based on the two-state formula and
relevant international decisions, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
At a meeting with US special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell to discuss
efforts to bring about stability and peace in the region, Judeh underlined the
need to launch serious and effective peace negotiations as soon as possible,
saying it is important to prevent any party from obstructing peace efforts.
At the meeting, the two diplomats discussed US President Barack Obama's speech
at the UN General Assembly meeting on Wednesday, especially his remarks
regarding peace in the Middle East.
Judeh stressed that settlement expansion is the major obstacle to achieving
peace, saying such activities should be stopped immediately.
Also Thursday, Judeh met with EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and
Security Policy Javier Solana and discussed peacemaking efforts.
At the meeting, the foreign minister underlined the need for the international
community to shoulder its responsibilities in launching serious and effective
Palestinian-Israeli negotiations that lead to the creation of an independent
Palestinian state within a regional context.
Judeh emphasised the importance of the EU’s role in moving peace efforts
forward, warning that wasting the opportunity at hand to attain peace threatens
the region's security and stability.
The minister said that “it is important that negotiations, when launched, cover
all final status issues in accordance with a specific time frame” that ensures
the establishment of an independent state on Palestinian national soil with East
Jerusalem as its capital.
Judeh also met Thursday with his Malaysian counterpart, Datuk Anifah Aman. They
discussed means to foster bilateral ties and regional and international issues
of mutual concern.
The top diplomat, who is in New York to represent Jordan at the UN General
Assembly meeting, has taken part in a flurry of Arab diplomatic efforts to unify
the Arab stand at the global meeting, especially regarding the Middle East
conflict.