His Majesty King Abdullah and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Monday warned against reluctance in peace efforts, stressing that the Palestinians should see tangible results on the ground as soon as possible.
Lukewarmness and reluctance to push the peace process forward, they said at their Sharm El Sheikh summit, would exacerbate the situation and lead to further tension and frustration in the region, a Royal Court statement said.
King Abdullah and Mubarak reiterated that any solution to the Palestinian issue should be based on relevant international legitimacy resolutions and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. They said the envisioned solution should lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
They urged intensified work to remove all obstacles slowing down negotiations under way between the Palestinians and Israelis to address the final status issues, saying that these talks need a proper atmosphere so that they achieve their goals in accordance with a fixed timeframe.
At the meeting, the King briefed Mubarak on the results of his White House talks last Wednesday with US President George W. Bush, telling the Egyptian president that he sought throughout the meeting to rally US support for the peace process and make sure Washington sustains the momentum of its involvement in the Mideast peace.
The Monarch and Mubarak also renewed their backing of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority in efforts to reach a deal with the Israelis which leads to an independent state on the entire national Palestinian turf in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Talks also covered bilateral ties and means to cement them.
Meanwhile, King Abdullah started later in the day a two-day visit to Kuwait upon an invitation from its emir, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, to take part in the 4th World Islamic Economic Forum in Kuwait, which kicks off today.
His Majesty is scheduled to deliver a speech at the opening ceremony, in which more than 400 businesspeople and heads of foreign companies will take part.
Front Page Features