Jordan's Foreign Minister Meets US Secretary of State
Discuss Bilateral and Regional Developments

May 11' 2006, Washington, DC- Jordan's Foreign Minister Abdel Ilah Al Khatib, accompanied by Jordan's Ambassador Karim Kawar met with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Washington on Thursday to discuss US-Jordan bilateral issues as well regional developments including the Palestinian-Israeli issue, Iraq, the war on terrorism and reforms.

Al Khatib stressed the importance and necessity of pushing the peace process forward. He reiterated Jordan's support for the Palestinian National Authority and the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Al Khatib said Jordan is "committed to its position in advocating the return of both sides to the negotiating table."

Regarding the most recent meetings held in New York between members of the Quartet, Al Khatib said that the meetings, which he attended, have made progress in agreeing to establish a mechanism to channel funds to the Palestinian people.

On Iraq, Al Khatib stated that recent developments on the political front in Iraq are positive signs adding that in the next period the focus should be made on an all-inclusive national unity government that will not exclude any fraction. "Jordan continues to encourage efforts to form a government that would preserve Iraq's territorial integrity and preserve its Iraqi identity," Al Khatib said. He added that Jordan continues to play a positive role in supporting Iraq’s security, stability, and reconstruction efforts through training more than 30,000 Iraqi Police, Special Operations, judges, and civil society leaders.

Al Khatib also discussed Jordan's reform agenda with the US Secretary as well the Forum for the Future which will be hosted by Jordan in December of this year.

For more information please contact Press Attaché Merissa Khurma at
202-265-1606