Jordan, EU renew support for Mideast peace efforts

AMMAN – His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday discussed with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton the latest regional developments and means to boost cooperation between Jordan and the EU, a Royal Court statement said.

During the meeting, the King underscored the important role of the EU in supporting efforts under way to achieve peace in the Middle East on the basis of the two-state solution and within a comprehensive and regional context.

The two sides also reviewed cooperation between Jordan and the EU and means to foster them in all fields to serve Jordan’s and the EU’s common interests, especially after Jordan attained advanced status with the EU last year.

Also on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh discussed bilateral ties and regional developments with Ashton before they held a joint press conference.

The officials reiterated the importance of advancing peace efforts and launching serious Palestinian-Israeli negotiations that effectively address all final status issues leading to the implementation of a two-state solution.

They agreed that such a formula is the only means to ensure the establishment of an independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

“The sooner we find a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict and the Palestinian issue, the sooner we make peace in the region,” Judeh said, commending the role played by the EU in supporting Mideast peace efforts.

For her part, Ashton reiterated the EU’s commitment to ending the conflict in the region to achieve security and stability for all peoples, adding that the EU will exert all efforts needed to ensure that direct peace negotiations are resumed as soon as possible.

In light of developments in the region, Ashton said: “The peace process must be pushed forward and concerted efforts are needed now more than ever.”

Ashton, who was in Tunisia earlier this week, said she met with representatives from the Tunisian government, the main political parties and civil society organisations.

She added that she was heading to Egypt from Jordan where she will hold similar talks with Egyptian officials in order to see how the EU can support the country realise its ambitions.

“The EU is wholeheartedly behind the Tunisian and the Egyptian people’s aspirations for freedom, democracy and dignity. They have reached a point of no return in their history and I pay tribute to the courage and dignity of the people in their peaceful struggle to be the owners of their own destiny,” she said.

jordantimes