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King urges ‘practical steps’ to restart peace process

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His Majesty King Abdullah is received by Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf in Stockholm on Tuesday (Photo by Yousef Allan)
His Majesty King Abdullah is received by Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf in Stockholm on Tuesday (Photo by Yousef Allan)


AMMAN (JT) - His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday called for translating the US commitment to the two-state solution and the European support to Mideast peace efforts into practical steps as soon as possible.

Such a peace formula should come within a regional context to reach a lasting and just peace in accordance with the related terms of reference, especially the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, King Abdullah said in two separate meetings yesterday with Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt.

Also yesterday, King Abdullah met with Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia, according to a Royal Court statement from Stockholm.

At the meeting, which continued over a lunch banquet, the two leaders discussed developments in the Middle East and regional and international efforts to bring about comprehensive and lasting peace based on the two-state solution. Talks also covered means to bolster bilateral ties in different fields.

In the meetings with the two Swedish officials, King Abdullah discussed efforts to realise peace in the Middle East based on the two-state formula, which, he said, is accepted by the international community as the sole way to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the statement indicated.

Talks also covered the role Sweden can play at the European and global levels to support the two-state solution, which would lead to a permanent and just peaceful settlement, especially since Sweden will hold the rotating presidency of the EU early next month.

His Majesty also underlined the need to intensify international efforts to kick-start Palestinian-Israeli negotiations in accordance with a clear action plan and a fixed timeframe.

In the talks, King Abdullah renewed a demand that Israel halt all unilateral measures and settlement activities, which threaten the future of peace efforts.

The Monarch also discussed means to help the Palestinians overcome the hard living conditions they are going through, stressing the vital role of Sweden and the EU in this regard.

On bilateral ties, His Majesty reviewed investment opportunities in Jordan and voiced hope for a greater volume of trade and more Swedish investments in Jordan.

The two sides also discussed opportunities to benefit from Sweden's experience in the fields of environment, renewable energy and communications as Sweden enjoys a global reputation in these spheres.

Reinfeldt and Bildt briefed King Abdullah on Sweden's stand towards the developments in the Middle East and efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, expressing hope for better bilateral ties between the two kingdoms.

Sweden was the third leg in an EU tour that also took the King to Belgium and the UK.


24 June 2009

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