Jordan Times
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
King, Sarkozy discuss Middle East peace
AMMAN (JT) - His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday
held talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy on means to increase economic
cooperation and efforts to relaunch Middle East peace negotiations.
King Abdullah, who arrived on a brief visit to Paris yesterday, discussed with
Sarkozy prospects to boost economic ties between Jordan and France and to
increase investment cooperation in various economic projects and development
areas in the Kingdom, a Royal Court statement said.
During the meeting, the two leaders also discussed ongoing efforts to overcome
obstacles to the launch of serious and effective peace negotiations in order to
end the Palestinian-Israeli struggle on the basis of the two-state solution and
within a regional context.
King Abdullah cautioned anew against Israel’s continued settlement activities
and unilateral measures in Jerusalem, which he said are a breach of
international law. The King said Israel seeks to alter the real features and
identity of the city and to drive Muslims and Christians out of it through such
measures.
Moreover, King Abdullah stressed the importance of the role of the EU and
France, in particular, to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and achieve
comprehensive peace, stressing the need for a concerted international effort to
restart peace talks and guarantee the achievement of the two-state solution as
soon as possible.
Last month, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner came to Amman for meetings
with Prime Minister Nader Dahabi and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, during
which he stressed his country's support for Abbas and the Palestinian Authority,
and its rejection of Israel's settlement policies.
Kouchner briefed Dahabi on the efforts being exerted at the time by France to
help bring about comprehensive peace in the region. Dahabi stressed that France
and Jordan share the same views on the centrality of the Palestinian issue and
called for the two countries to unite their efforts to relaunch peace talks.