Steinmeier and Judeh
Photo: AP
Jordanian, German FMs call for renewal of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks
Jordan's minister says world is unanimous on need for negotiations leading to Palestinian state in joint press conference with German foreign minister; King Abdullah meets with Angela Merkel as both countries emphasize ties.
Jordanian King Abdullah II, on Saturday, met with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and discussed bilateral ties and the Middle East.
The king stressed the need to further cement ties between the two countries.
The two leaders also discussed efforts to combat terrorism and terrorist groups.
The King and the German minister called on all to set the ground for the resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier gives a press conference with the Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh on Saturday (Photo: AP)
In an earlier joint press conference held by Jordan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs, Nasser Judeh and Steinmeier, the Jordanian official said the whole world is unanimous on the need for comprehensive and time-framed negotiations that culminate with the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Steinmeier voiced Germany's respect and support for the central role of Jordan in the Middle East. He called on the international community to provide additional support to Jordan to mitigate the Syrian refugees crisis.
On Wednesday Abdullah met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.
At a joint news conference after a meeting at the Chancellery, the King said reiterated the need to intensify efforts to set the ground to revive the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and resume negotiations, based on the two-state solution and relevant terms of reference.
"(The peace talks are) the most persistent problem in our region, and a major contributor to extremism and recruitment of extremists throughout the world. I think both of us (Abdullah and Merkel) see that the only way out is to push both parties together in pursuing the two-state solution,” he said.
The King urged further cooperation between the two countries. “We have a very strong future together, both Jordan and Germany. We are determined to walk together in this path forward.”
Merkel concluded: “The Middle East conflict is of central importance. Yesterday, in my talk with the president of Israel, I made it very clear that we are concentrating on a two-state solution and we will do everything in order to be helpful, although we know that this is going to be very much an uphill battle, but we believe only a diplomatic solution will bring about a result.”
