King meets Kerry on Mideast peace

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Friday reiterated Jordan’s higher interests, especially those pertaining to final-status issues of the Middle East peace process, according to a Royal court statement. 

The King made the statement during a meeting with US Secretary of State John Kerry at the port city of Aqaba where discussions focused on the Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations.  

Kerry, who was on a short visit to the Kingdom, briefed the King on the situation of the current US-brokered Palestinian-Israeli negotiations. He also highlighted the outcome of the recent visit by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the US and his meeting with President Barack Obama. 

King Abdullah stressed the importance of support from all parties and the international community for efforts exerted to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the region, on the basis of the two-state solution, international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, in a manner that meets the aspirations of the Palestinian people. 

The solution should lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on Palestinian national soil, within the pre-1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, to live in peace and security side by side with Israel, the King stressed. 

At the meeting, which was attended by Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, Kerry lauded the King’s efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East and to boost regional security and stability, the statement said.