King holds talks on ties, Mideast with Congress leaders

His Majesty King Abdullah speaks to the press, jointly with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at Capitol Hill on Wednesday (Photo by Yousef Allan)

AMMAN (JT) – His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday underlined the time factor as key to realising tangible progress in the peace process.

He said the continuation of the status quo would trigger more tension and negative consequences that threaten the future of the region and its nations.

The Monarch made the remarks during several separate meetings at the Congress that tackled means to foster Jordanian-American ties and developments in the Middle East.

The Monarch held meetings with the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, US Senate Committee on Appropriations, US House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the US House Subcommittee on Foreign Operations.

In joint press remarks following a meeting with Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, King Abdullah said: “Yesterday, we had a very fruitful and successful summit with the president. But we are also here to discuss with the president the challenges of the Middle East, namely the peace process.”

King Abdullah said that at his Monday meeting with President Barack Obama, discussions covered means of coordination with the US to move forward the peace process in the region.

His Majesty highlighted that his discussions with congressional panels focused on bilateral issues and means to attain peace and stability in the Middle East.

In her remarks, Pelosi said: “When I became speaker, the first head of state that I invited to speak to a joint session of Congress was King Abdullah. He gave us the benefit of his thinking at the time, and we continue to count on the benefit of his wisdom. His views are sought here; his judgement is respected; and his friendship is valued.”

Pelosi, who commended the King’s distinguished leadership and strive for attaining Mideast peace, said: “King Abdullah has been a leader, a respected leader.”

His Majesty’s talks at the Congress addressed the US role in jump-starting serious and effective Palestinian-Israeli negotiations that lead to the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state that lives side by side with Israel.

Discussions covered efforts under way to realise Mideast peace in line with the two-state solution, which, he reiterated, is the sole way to bring about stability and security in the region.

At the meetings, King Abdullah warned against the dangers of the unilateral Israeli measures in Jerusalem, emphasising the need to halt these procedures that seek to change realties on the ground.

King Abdullah also stressed the centrality of the Palestinian issue and the need to launch serious and effective peace talks based on the two-state formula and within a regional context.

King Abdullah also voiced appreciation of the US assistance to Jordan that enable the Kingdom to implement development programmes and projects in different sectors.

The meetings, which brought about the Friends of Jordan Caucus at the US Senate as well as the caucus at the House of Representatives, covered means to develop the Jordanian-American partnership in various fields.

The Friends of Jordan Caucus at the US Senate was launched in April last year in Washington in the presence of Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between Jordan and the US.

The Friends of Jordan Caucus at the House of Representatives was launched in 2007 upon an initiative by Republican and Democratic representatives. It was the first such an assembly formed with an Arab country.

jordantimes