Jordan Times
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
King urges int’l action
to end Palestinian suffering
AMMAN (JT) - His Majesty King Abdullah held talks on Tuesday with Norway's Prime
Minister Jens Stoltenberg on Mideast peace and economic cooperation between the
two kingdoms, mainly in the field of renewable energy.
King Abdullah’s talks with the Norwegian premier and separate discussions with
Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store focused on the Norwegian and European roles in
achieving Mideast peace and efforts to remove obstacles to the two-state
solution.
During the two meetings, the King warned that the continuation of the status quo
and the faltering peace efforts increase tension in the region, which may
develop into a new cycle of violence threatening regional and international
security.
King Abdullah emphasised that defusing tension requires effective and swift
international action to end the suffering of the Palestinian people and fulfil
their right in establishing an independent state on their national soil, within
a regional comprehensive peace context.
He also stressed the responsibility of the international community in lifting
the illegal blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza, underlining the suffering of
more than 1.5 million Palestinians that is no longer possible to turn a blind
eye to.
Moreover, the Monarch underscored the importance of launching an international
independent investigation into the Israeli raid on the Freedom Flotilla vessel
at the end of last month which was denounced by Jordan as a crime and a breach
of international law.
Israel on Monday decided to set up an internal committee to probe its deadly
raid on a Gaza-bound aid fleet, but the move was swiftly dismissed by
Palestinians and Turkey.
His Majesty stressed that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the root cause of
violence in the Middle East, emphasising that regional peace and stability will
not be achieved until the Palestinian people are ensured justice.
The King also expressed appreciation of Norway as the country chairs the
international donor committee supporting the Palestinian people and
institutions.
The King’s visit to Oslo came as part of his efforts to build up effective
international action to overcome the obstacles Israeli policies place in the
face of peace making in the region.
During his tour, the King held meetings with the UK and the US officials during
which he underlined the need for collaborating international efforts to end the
suffering of the Palestinians and the blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza.
Also yesterday, King Abdullah discussed with Norwegian officials mechanisms to
increase economic cooperation and lure Norwegian investments into mega-projects
in the Kingdom in the fields of energy, water and transport.
During a meeting with Norway’s Minister of Environment and International
Development Erik Solheim and with chief executive officers of Norwegian energy
companies, the King highlighted cooperation prospects in the energy sector.
He underlined the possibility of increasing cooperation in the area of renewable
energy production and utilisation, noting that the Kingdom can also benefit from
Norway’s expertise in upgrading Jordanians’ skills in this field.
The companies’ CEOs briefed the King on their business capabilities in the
fields of renewable energy, water desalination, electric grid technologies and
the utilisation of solar, wind and water energy.
At the meeting, Minister of Public Sector Development and Minister of State for
Mega-Projects Imad Fakhoury emphasised the opportunities available for foreign
investors to join Jordan’s infrastructure mega-projects through strategic
partnerships.
A workshop hosting specialised Norwegian energy, water and infrastructure
companies will be held on this issue, Fakhoury said.