The King arrived yesterday in Brussels, the first leg of a several-day European tour that will take him to Britain and Sweden, as well as Belgium.

In addition to his efforts to advance peace talks, the King will be holding discussions with European officials to foster Jordan’s economic and commercial ties with the European countries.

During the summit in Brussels, attended by Czech President Vaclav Klaus, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, the King underlined the need for immediate and urgent action to resolve the Palestinian issue on the basis of the two-state solution.

At the meeting, also attended by European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, King Abdullah stressed the importance of resolving the conflict within a regional context, in accordance with international resolutions, especially the Arab Peace Initiative.

His Majesty King Abdullah poses for a photo with Czech President Vaclav Klaus (2nd right), European Commission President José Manuel Barroso (1st right) and EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana in Brussels on Wednesday (Photo by Yousef Allan)

The 2002 initiative affirms the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on Palestinian soil, in the West Bank and in Gaza, and gives Israel security guarantees and recognition by Arab countries.

During the summit, the King discussed with the European officials steps that can be taken to arrive at a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, amid the current circumstances, which he said necessitate immediate action.

He also stressed that Israel must stop all unilateral action, especially its settlement-building activity, which threatens the future of the peace process and the chance for the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state.

Reiterating the need for unified international action to launch peace negotiations, the Monarch said such a move must be in accordance with a well-examined work plan and serious and immediate negotiations, not an endless process.

The King underscored the importance of achieving comprehensive peace in the region and assisting those involved in the conflict to end it, cautioning that the continuation of the conflict poses a threat to Israel, the Palestinians and Arab countries, as well as to global security and stability.

In this regard, the King also underlined the role of the new US administration and President Barack Obama’s commitment to the two-state solution.

Royal Court Chief Nasser Lozi, the King’s Adviser Ayman Safadi, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Suhair Al-Ali and Jordan’s Ambassador in Brussels Ahmad Masadeh attended the summit discussions.

Also yesterday, the King met with Barroso at the commission’s headquarters, where they discussed European-Jordanian relations and means to boost them.

Before the summit, King Abdullah held a meeting with the Czech president at the European Council during which they reviewed means to enhance bilateral cooperation as well as current regional developments.

In a statement to Jordan TV, Judeh underlined the importance of the King’s visit to Belgium and his meetings with the European officials.

“There was an exchange of views, in total frankness, on the coming stage, and the need to focus on launching direct negotiations, and consider the three tracks: the Palestinian track to lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, the return of occupied land to Syria and Lebanon, and mobilising international support for the two-state solution,” Judeh said.

Speaking to Jordan TV, Al-Ali also highlighted the strong ties between Jordan and the EU, on the political and economic levels.

The assistance from the EU amounts to 70 million euros annually.