By Xinhua
Amman : Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Thursday talked with visiting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on efforts exerted to ensure the success of an international meeting on the Middle East peace scheduled for later this year in the United States.
They said that it was important to discuss core issues of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in the meeting leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the Palestinian lands, Jordan’s official Petra news agency reported.
They also underlined the need of proper preparation for the meeting and put specific agenda on the final status issues which include Jerusalem, the borders and Palestinian refugees, added the report.
The King expressed Jordan’s support to the Palestinian president as well as his keenness to rally Arab and international support for the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to ensure success of negotiations with Israel.
They also discussed the outcome of the recent tour of U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the region and her talks with Palestinian and Israeli officials.
For his part, Abbas briefed the King on his talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and on the outcome of his recent Asian tour, voicing appreciation of the role played by Jordan in supporting the Palestinian people.
In July, U.S. President George W. Bush proposed to hold the international conference this fall to include Israel, the Palestinians and some Arab nations to help revive the stalled Mideast peace talks.
Last week, Rice visited the Middle East for the latest round of shuttle diplomacy as Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are still at odds over an outline of a peace agreement that would be presented at the conference due in Annapolis, Maryland.