Jordan Times
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Jordan backs plan for
proximity peace talks
By Hani Hazaimeh
AMMAN - The government on Wednesday expressed its support for a plan proposed by
the US to hold indirect talks between the parties involved in the Middle East
conflict as a precursor to direct negotiations.
“Jordan’s position is clear and solid with regards to the resumption of
negotiations that will guarantee the establishment of a viable and independent
Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” Minister of State for
Media Affairs and Communications and Government Spokesperson Nabil Sharif said
yesterday.
He reiterated Jordan’s call for the international community to intensify efforts
to overcome the obstacles hindering peace talks, highlighting the important
roles of the US and the EU in this context and adding that peace in the region
is in the interest of the entire world.
The absence of peace will only create more tension in the region, Sharif said,
stressing that Jordan will continue to oversee and protect the Islamic shrines
in Jerusalem, and rejects and condemns any unilateral Israeli measures in the
holy city that aim to change the city’s identity and cleanse it of its original
inhabitants.
“The recent Israeli plan to include two flashpoint religious shrines in the
occupied West Bank on a list of national heritage sites is not acceptable and
does not serve the efforts exerted by the international community for peace.
They are a clear violation of all international principles and legitimacy,” the
minister said in response to journalists’ questions during a press conference
yesterday.
With regards to recent reports about a Palestinian proposal concerning the
resumption of negotiations, the minister said the location where these talks
will be held is yet to be set by the US administration, adding that US Special
Envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell will soon start another series of
visits in the region.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday she hoped
Palestinian-Israeli peace talks would resume soon, taking a more upbeat tone
about efforts to end the conflict than is typical for US officials, Reuters
reported.
“We hope that that will commence shortly,” Clinton told lawmakers. “We think
it’s absolutely essential that they begin to talk about the final status issues
that divide them... but we are well aware of the difficulties that confront us.”