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King Abdullah, Mubarak Discuss Mideast Crisis

Published September 1st, 2001 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

Jordan's King Abdullah and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak held talks on the Middle East crisis on Saturday in Alexandria, sources at Mubarak's office told AFP. 

The two Arab leaders met alone and were later joined by their delegations in Ras Al Tin Palace on Egypt's coast, before continuing their talks over lunch, the officials said. 

They discussed "developments in the Occupied Territories in light of the Israeli escalation," Egypt's state MENA news agency said. 

King Abdullah was accompanied by Prime Minister Ali Abu Ragheb, royal chief of staff Fayez Tarawneh, Foreign Minister Abdel Ilah Khatib and the chief of Jordanian intelligence, General Saad Khair. 

Mubarak was joined by his top political adviser Osama Al Baz and Prime Minister Atef Ebeid. 

No statements were made after the talks, and the Jordan delegation left after a visit lasting around three hours, said the agency. 

Egypt and Jordan, the only two Arab countries to have signed a peace treaty with Israel, earlier this year made a joint proposal for bringing an end to the violence, freezing Jewish settlement in the occupied Palestinian territories and re-launching talks aimed at a final peace deal. 

Al Ahram newspaper said Friday that the two leaders would seek to activate the plan and the full implementation of the US-led Mitchell Commission’s recommendations.  

King Abdullah telephoned Mubarak twice in June and July and the two leaders met in Egypt in May to discuss the joint initiative.  

On Thursday, the king received a telephone call from US Secretary of State Colin Powell, during which the two discussed the deteriorating situation in the occupied Palestinian territories, said the Jordan Times.  

The monarch, who returned to Jordan from official visits to Russia and Bulgaria on Wednesday, also discussed with Powell means to find an appropriate mechanism to help the Palestinians and the Israelis escape the so-called "cycle of violence" which has witnessed an escalation in recent weeks.  

King Abdullah emphasized the importance of immediate US action and prompt diplomatic efforts to stop Israeli incursions into the Palestinian territories and the Jewish state's attacks on Palestinian civilians.  

He also stressed that it was important that Israel respect the agreements it had concluded with the Palestinians, as well as international law, in order to pave the way for a resumption of the peace negotiations.  

During the call, said the paper, Powell stressed the value of the king’s efforts to create an appropriate climate so that the peace negotiations could once again be launched - Albawaba.com  

 

© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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