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December 1, 2006 |
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TALKS ON IRAQ BETWEEN THE KING OF JORDAN, THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT AND THE IRAQI PRIME MINISTER. THE JORDANIAN MONARCH WARNS OF THREE CIVIL WARS IN THE REGION. OPPONENTS IN LEBANON MOVE THEIR POLITICAL DIFFERENCES TO THE STREETS. PRINCE KHALID BIN SULTAN MEETS WITH MUBARAK AND REVIEWS THE ENHANCEMENT OF SAUDI-EGYPTIAN COOPERATION. President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt received a verbal message from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz dealing with latest developments on the Arab arena. The President conferred with Prince Saud Al-Faisal Saudi foreign Minister on the current developments in Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon. On another development King Abdullah II, the Jordanian Monarch said that urgent conflict resolution is required in the Middle East. Speaking during a summit with US President George W. Bush at Raghadan Palace in Amman, King Abdullah told the American president that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict was the core conflict in the region. He said that a just resolution of the conflict will help moderate the challenges to security posed by violence in the region. Palestinian-Israeli peace could be a catalyst for lasting Arab-Israeli peace, the King said. He urged President Bush and the American administration to work on moving the peace process forward by bringing together Palestinian and Israeli points of view so that negotiations could be resumed as soon as possible. The King said that the world realizes now more than ever that the only other alternative is the continuation of violence. He said that the establishment of a viable, independent Palestinian state on Palestinian soil living alongside a secure Israel is the only logical and internationally acceptable solution to the conflict. He urged international support for the Arab Peace Initiative, which reflects Arab consensus to end the long years of Arab-Israeli conflict. He discussed the efforts of Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia to realize a peace settlement on the basis of the initiative. King Abdullah urged the international community and the American administration to provide assistance to the Palestinians in a way that enables Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to alleviate human suffering and ease the economic pressure on the Palestinian population and that would help the Palestinian president maintain national unity and reinforce security. President Bush stressed that the US is committed to a two-state solution to the conflict and said the parties needed to create the appropriate circumstances to move the peace process forward. Efforts to obstruct peace negotiations should be stopped, he said. King Abdullah confirmed to the president that Jordan fully supports national reconciliation in Iraq. During the working dinner, the King and President Bush agreed that the Lebanese should be allowed to resolve political tension in their country free of outside influence. The two leaders also discussed international tensions over Iran's nuclear program. King Abdullah said support of the efforts of the international community was the only reasonable option to defuse the crisis. Bush commended Jordan's supportive role in regional security and stability and thanked Jordan for hosting his meeting with the Iraqi premier. He also expressed his appreciation for King Abdullah's concern to bring parties in conflict closer together to move the peace process forward. Talks between King Abdullah and President Bush were also attended by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, American Ambassador to Jordan David Hale and Deputy National Security Advisor Elliott Abrams. King Abdullah II also warned that three civil wars would start in the region, in Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine if the international community does not take a positive and quick stand towards solving these issues. Foreign Minister Abdul Illah underlined that the talks of King Abdullah and President Bush focused on the importance of restoring stability to Iraq. Stability, Khatib added is very important for the whole region. The continuous sectarian conflict endangers the stability of the region. The talks of the two leaders centered on helping Iraqis preserve their unity and the unity of Iraq. The Iraqi dossier, Khatib told Petra, enjoyed great concern and detailed discussion between King Abdullah and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Maliki. The meeting was important and fruitful, King Abdullah presented Jordan's stance, which calls for serious movement on Palestinian issue. The Palestinian-Israeli conflict was the core conflict in the region, a just resolution of the conflict will help moderate the challenges to security posed by violence in the region, Khatib added. The Iraqi government, Khatib said, is an elected government and it is necessary to support it and the Iraqi people. It is very important for Iraq to restore its security and stability to enable Iraqis to preserve their unity and evade division. The sectarian issue should be overlooked to help restore stability in the region. On the Lebanese dossier, Khatib said we are with security and stability of Lebanon, noting that Jordan's stance in this regard is clear that Jordan is with stability of Lebanon, calling for respecting the independence of Lebanon. King Abdullah II affirmed during his talks with the Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki, Jordan's support to the political process led by the current Iraqi government. The King said the success of Maliki's government to control violence in Iraq was a priority that Jordan works to achieve. He urged all Iraqis to unify their ranks and put aside their differences to prevent attempts designed to create divisions. During the meeting, which comes hours before the summit meeting with US President George W. Bush to discuss the situation in Iraq, the king expressed Jordan's grave concern over the rise of violence in Iraq and affirmed the support of the International community and the Arab and Islamic worlds to Iraq to enable the Iraqis to overcome the current crisis. King Abdullah II said Jordan stands at the same distance from all the Iraqi people of different religious persuasions, and their political interests and that Jordan's interests lies in helping Iraq and its people to overcome the difficult conditions. During a meeting with the President of the Supreme Council of Islamic Revolution in Iraq, Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, the King said Jordan, based on its historical ties with Iraq and its religious responsibility stemming from its concern for the blood of Muslims, will continue to support Iraq and its people to protect its unity. The King pointed out that Jordan is ready to provide all necessary support to ensure the success of the efforts of national reconciliation and the return of harmony among the Iraqi people to achieve a political consensus among the Iraqis to enhance their confidence in the authority of the State and its ability to protect them. King Abdullah also expressed Jordan's willingness to contribute to the efforts to rebuild Iraq and to cooperating in the field of security between the two countries. The King warned during the meeting of the danger of sectarian fighting in Iraq, reiterating Jordan's support to all sincere efforts aimed at ousting Iraq from the cycle of violence experienced by the return to play active and vital role in the region. In this context, King Abdullah II pointed out that he would work with the Arab States to intensify efforts aimed at helping Iraq and its people to move forward and urging all components of the Iraqi people to participate in the political process King Abdullah reaffirmed on the contents of the Amman Message, launched by Jordan during the month of Ramadan in 2004, and based on projecting the true image of Islam, which calls for moderation and renunciation of violence and extremism. The Monarch described the relations between Jordan and Iraq as historic and called for strengthening them in the various fields. For his part, al- Hakim expressed thanks and appreciation over the efforts of the King exerted to support Iraq and the Iraqi people, praising the efforts of King Abdullah to promote a climate of security and stability in Iraq. "We are proud of the positive role of Jordan in order to assist in building a democratic Iraq," Hakim said, stressing that the political process in Iraq is the product of the desire of millions of the Iraqi people and that the majority of Iraqis support. On the other hand King Abdullah II held talks with visiting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the current situation in the Middle East as well as efforts exerted to achieve peace, security and stability in the region. The King and Erdogan expressed the support of Jordan and Turkey to efforts geared towards reinvigorating the peace process and encouraging the Palestinians and Israeli to resume negotiations in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions. The King said the Palestinian issue was the core of conflict in the region, noting failure to find a solution for this issue was the reason behind instability in the region. "The Arab peace initiative, which received an Arab consensus, was a relevant frame to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict on the basis of two state solutions," he added. The King and the Turkish prime minister, who condemned sectarian violence in Iraq, urged Iraq's neighbouring countries to help to overcome this crisis at this stage. King Abdullah II inaugurated Young Arab Leaders Forum. In his inauguration remarks, the King expressed pride to be a member of the Young Arab Leaders Board of Trustees along with others who represent these leaders, 'who have a vision of the future and the potential to transform challenges into great opportunities that will contribute to the progress and prosperity of Arab societies.' The King welcomed Turkish Prime Minister Recap Tayyeb Erdogan who was among the participants in this event. Addressing a number of political and economic leaders and about 400 members of young Arab leaders representing 15 Arab countries, the King said that he has followed the work of this great organization since its first day of existence. On the Palestinian arena and after an unexpected cease-fire deal took hold, Israeli troops withdrew from the Gaza Strip but two major Palestinian fighter groups, saying they had no intention of stopping their attacks, fired volleys of homemade rockets into Israel. The ongoing rocket attacks by Hamas and Islamic Jihad tempered hopes for a lasting truce, which was meant to end five months of deadly clashes. The rockets landed in open fields and caused no injuries. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with his security chiefs and ordered them to send their forces to the Gaza border area by early afternoon to prevent further rocket attacks, according to Palestinian security officials. A senior Israeli official said Israel would wait a few hours to see if the attacks were isolated breaches or a full-scale violation of the agreement before deciding whether to respond. Olmert pledged to end the military offensive Israel launched in Gaza in June, less than a year after it pulled out of the coastal strip after 38 years of occupation. Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeinah said the cease-fire deal would revive a truce reached in Egypt in February 2005. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, offered to reduce checkpoints, release frozen funds and free prisoners in exchange for a captured soldier by the Palestinians in a serious push for peace. In what was billed as a major policy speech, Olmert also said Israel would also pull out of the West Bank and uproot settlements under a final peace deal. "I hold out my hand in peace to our Palestinian neighbors in the hope that it won't be returned empty," Olmert said. "We cannot change the past and we will not be able to bring back the victims on both sides of the borders," he said. "All that we can do today is stop additional tragedies." His offer to restart long-stalled peace talks came a day after the two sides began observing a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, ending five months of widespread violence in the coastal area and raising hopes that the truce would lead to new peace efforts. Olmert said that if the Palestinians establish a new, moderate Cabinet committed to carrying out the US-backed road map peace plan and securing the release of a captured Israeli soldier, then he would call for an immediate meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas "to have a real, open, honest, serious dialogue." Israeli officials denied the possibility of a summit between Abbas and Olmert on the sidelines of Bush's visit to neighboring Jordan. Olmert spokeswoman Miri Eisin said the sides were discussing when the leaders would meet, but no date had been set. Palestinian legislator Saeb Erekat, a top aide to Abbas, head of the moderate Fatah party, said the Palestinians were ready to negotiate a final peace deal. But the Palestinian Cabinet, led by the Hamas group, said it was suspicious of Olmert's outreach. Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman met in Israel with Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz and was to meet later in the day with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in the hope of advancing a prisoner exchange. But Israeli security and government officials have said the sides were far from a deal. Peretz welcomed Suleiman ahead of the talks, calling him an influential player in the Middle East. "I have no doubt that his presence today in this situation is significant. It has significance right now and it will also be significant in the future," Peretz said. Israeli officials said the talks with Suleiman would focus on arms smuggling from Egypt into Gaza, which is supposed to stop under the truce deal. Israeli military officials are skeptical the smuggling will stop. Palestinian militants want Israel to free the 1,400 prisoners, including 400 women and minors, in three phases, said Abu Mujahed, a spokesman for the Hamas-affiliated Palestinian Resistance Committees, one of three groups involved in Shalit's capture. The factions have not yet presented the Egyptians with a list of prisoners they want released, he added. "Until now, there is no agreement with the Israelis on a prisoner exchange or on the timing," Abu Mujahed said. But Kadoura Fares, a former Fatah legislator, said he received personal assurances from Hamas' political chief, Khaled Mashaal, that Palestinian uprising leader Marwan Barghouti would be part of any swap. Barghouti, a West Bank Fatah leader, is serving five life sentences for his involvement in attacks on Israelis. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who earlier appealed to the Palestinians to resume peace talks, has said Israel would not hand over any prisoners to Hamas, but wants the deal done with Abbas. Israel, the U.S. and Western Europe have refused to recognize the Hamas-led government, which took office in March. They have slapped debilitating economic sanctions on it, demanding it recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept existing peace deals. Hamas has rejected the demands, even though the boycott has nearly bankrupted its government and made it largely impossible for it to pay civil servants who provide for one-third of the Palestinians. In Lebanon Premier Fouad Siniora briefed UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on the Lebanese government's approval of the agreement between the UN and Lebanon regarding the tribunal of an international character and the blueprints of this court. According to the constitutional norms, this agreement must be sent to the President. For his part, Justice Minister Charles Rizk said that the tribunal of an international character would be an example of cooperation between the international community and the Lebanese judiciary who would have a big and crucial role in its establishment. Rizk said that the cabinet's approval of the tribunal's blueprints was a step that must be followed by other steps. The Justice Minister meanwhile stressed that as the issue was related to an international pact, the parliament's role in ratifying it was important. Regarding the issue of transferring the file of slain minister Pierre Gemayel to the Judicial Council at a time where some considered the cabinet illegitimate, Rizk expressed his wishes for all parties to go beyond the political tensions and considerations in a subject that revolved around prevailing justice. On Friday a sea of flag-waving protesters demanded the resignation of Lebanon's government at a Hezbollah-led rally, but Prime Minister Fouad Siniora appeared unmoved by the pressure. Hezbollah and its allies had called on Lebanese from across the country to take part in the opposition protest in the capital Beirut, to be followed by an indefinite sit-in near the government offices. Large numbers of security forces, backed by armoured troop carriers, were deployed. Scores of soldiers, using barbed wire and metal barriers, cordoned off the complex housing the government's offices in downtown Beirut. Siniora and many ministers were inside while less than 30 metres away, the crowds gathered, waving red-and-white Lebanese flags under banners demanding a government of national unity. Hezbollah has criticised Siniora's cabinet over what it says was its failure to back Hezbollah during the July-August war with Israel. Siniora said his government would not quit. The government was weakened last month by the resignation of six opposition ministers and the Nov. 21 assassination of anti-Syrian Christian cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel. His funeral drew tens of thousands into central Beirut, with many mourners accusing Damascus of being behind the killing. Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, urged supporters to remain calm and avoid street confrontations. "Very calmly, we will remain steadfast," he told a news conference on Friday. "We will confront (the opposition) calmly. We will remain in our houses and fly the Lebanese flags... We will wait for a month, for two months... and watch them." The anti-Syrian camp accuses the opposition of aiming to bring down the government to derail an international tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq al-Hariri, whose killing in 2005 many blame on Damascus. Lebanon's Premier Fouad Siniora received Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Abdul Aziz Khojah. In a statement following the meeting, the Saudi Ambassador stressed Saudi concern for security, stability and prosperity of Lebanon. He added that Saudi moves are based on Saudi Arabia being a country that loves peace and Lebanon. The Ambassador stated that the Lebanese are the ones who can solve their problems alone explaining that dialogue is the only way for solving all problems and is in the interest of the country. Lebanon's Parliament Speaker Nabih Berry received the Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Abdul Aziz Khojah. During the meeting, they discussed issues of common interest. Lebanon's Mufti Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Rasheed Qabbani met with Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja. Following the meeting, Khoja said a number of issues pertinent to Muslims in general were discussed during the meeting. He lauded the positions of Lebanon's Ulema on different issues of concern to the Muslim Ummah. Lebanese Head pf Parliamentary Future Bloc Representative Saad Al Hariri received here today Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Dr. Abdul Aziz Khojah. During the meeting, they discussed issues of common interest. In Cairo Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak received Prince Khaled Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation for Military Affairs. The meeting was attended by Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces Lt. Sami Anan. Egyptian Defense and Military Production Minister Mohammed Hussein Tantawi received Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, the Saudi Assistant Defense and Aviation Minister For Military Affairs. They reviewed aspects of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in the military spheres. The meeting was attended by Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces Lt. General Sami Anan and other senior military officials. The Senate of Cairo-Based Nasser Military Academy awarded o Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General for Military Affairs of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt's first ever honorary doctorate in military sciences and national strategy in recognition of his prominent role in enhancing Saudi Egyptian cooperation relations in the military fields and for his leadership of the joint forces and operations theatre during the war for liberating Kuwait in 1990 -1991. Major General Ahmed Darweesh, director of the academy, decorated Prince Khalid with the doctorate's sash. Earlier, Prince Khalid delivered a lecture at the academy on concepts of peace and force. Commander of the Egyptian Armed Forces and Defense and Military Production Minister Mohammed Hussein Tantawi hosted a dinner party in honor of Prince Khaled Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz. Speaking on the occasion, Prince Khaled expressed happiness for visiting Egypt and said 'when you are in Egypt, you feel you are at home, and when you are away from Egypt you long for it'. He expressed appreciation for awarding him an honorary doctorate in the philosophy of military studies and national strategy from Nasser Military Academy. He highlighted the significant role of the academy in graduating efficient military commanders who have obtained experience n military knowledge. Prince Khaled lauded the excellent coordination between Saudi Arabia and Egypt during the war of Kuwait's liberation. Prince Khaled extended to Tantawi a piece of the Holy Kaaba's Kiswa (cover), and another memorial gift to Lt. General Sami Anan, The Chief of Staff of the Egyptian Armed Forces. The dinner party was attended by Saudi Ambassador To Egypt Hisham Nazir and a number of officials. |
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