April 30, 2008, Washington, DC-
Jordan’s Foreign Minister Dr. Salaheddin Al
Bashir met today with U.S. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice and other administration
officials during his three-day visit to
Washington.
Talks focused on Jordan and U.S. efforts to
enhance the Annapolis peace process ahead of
Secretary Rice’s upcoming diplomatic tour and
President George W. Bush’s visit to the region
later next month. Al Bashir commended Secretary
Rice’s efforts in ensuring both Israelis and
Palestinians live up to their commitments agreed
to in the Roadmap at the Annapolis peace
conference in November. Al Bashir also
underlined the importance of President Bush’s
trip to the region noting that it demonstrates
the President’s “personal commitment” to the
peace process. The U.S. involvement is “much
needed” to move the process forward toward
“achieving a peace agreement
that addresses final
status issues and leads to the establishment of
an independent and viable Palestinian state,” Al
Bashir said.
On Iraq, Al Bashir underscored Jordan’s
continued support of Iraq’s unity, territorial
integrity, and sovereignty adding that Jordan
backs Iraqi efforts to resolve the current
situation through the political process “free
from foreign intervention.” Al Bashir pointed to
Jordanian-Iraqi cooperation in border security,
trade and Iraqi residents in Jordan.
The meeting with Secretary Rice was attended by
His Royal Highness Prince Zeid Ra’ad, Jordan’s
Ambassador in the United States.
During his visit, Al Bashir addressed the Saban
Center at the Brookings Institution about
developments in the region including the
Palestinian-Israeli peace track, the situation
in Iraq and the political deadlock in Lebanon.
The roundtable discussion that included members
of Washington’s think tank community was
moderated by Ambassador Martin Indyk, director
of the Saban Center.
Al Bashir also met with Congressional leaders in
both the House of Representatives and Senate and
expressed Jordan’s gratitude for Congress’
support for U.S. assistance to Jordan.
