San Francisco, 16/4/2004, (Communication & Information Division - Royal Hashemite Court) -
His Majesty King Abdullah II on
Thursday arrived to San Francisco at the beginning of a three day working
visit to US, that includes a meeting, next Wednesday, in Washington
with US President George Bush.



During the expected meeting His Majesty is due to stress the Jordanian
stand regarding means to end the Palestinian Israeli conflict
through implementation of the road map which includes establishment
of independent Palestinian state side by side with Israel,
the issue which His Majesty stressed last Sunday in his letter to
President Bush.

The King is expected also to stress the necessity that withdrawal
from Gaza should be part of the road map rather than an alternative
to it.

During His Majesty's visit to Washington, King Abduullah is
expected to ddiscuss with American Vice President Dick Cheney, and
Secretary of State Collin Powell moving the peace process, in addition
to and the current situations in Iraq.

The King's talks are expected also to focus on bilateral relations
, particularly in the economic and investment fields.

His Majesty is expected to meet with a number of leaders and members
of the Senate and Congress to discuss supporting the peace process
efforts and the American aid to Jordan.

Upon the King's arrival to US, Wall Street Journal published His
Majesty's article ''Reform is our Priority'', where he stressed that
reform process has already begun in the Arab world. He pointed out
to Jordan as a model in this process that touches on political and
economic issues.

Most Arabs, His Majesty said, agree on reform and the necessity
to proceed from inside in order to secure its success. He pointed
out that there are uncertainties towards the causes that stimule
the West to push the reform process forward.

Dignity, equality and respect of mind, and law, as well as tolerance
and personal responsibility are the real values of Islam that push
towards a new dawn of progress in the Middle East, His Majesty wrote.

His Majesty stressed that reform will not succeed unless
the Palestinian issue is solved.

His Majesty is expected Friday to meet with editing board
of San Francisco Chronicle. In Washington he is going to meet with
editing board of The Washington Post. CNN Larry King and NBC
Tom Bucao are expected to interview His Majesty.

The King is expected Friday to address the Commonwealth Club
in San Francisco, which celebrates its 100th anniversary. He is going
also to give a speech to the National Press Council in Washington.

His Majesty is accompanied by four Jordanian students who excelled
in the Jordanian universities, and are to participate in the King's
meetings and activities. Such initiative comes within His Majesty's endeavor
to enhance Jordan as a model in enabling youth to actively participate
in all fields and cement their role in the Jordanian society.