His Majesty King Abdullah on Saturday held talks at 10 Downing Street with British Prime Minister David Cameron on political developments in the Middle East, with focus on efforts to achieve peace in the region in line with the two-state solution.
Talks also covered the crisis in Syria, in addition to bilateral relations and prospects of expanding bilateral cooperation.
King Abdullah underlined the significance of the UK’s role to help Palestinians and Israelis return to direct negotiations to work out solutions to final-status issues, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state that lives in peace and security side by side with Israel, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
The King warned against Israeli unilateral measures and policies in the Palestinian territories, most serious of which is continued settlement activity. He reiterated that without a peaceful solution to the conflict, tensions and instability will deepen in the region.
The King and Cameron discussed the accelerating developments in Syria. His Majesty voiced Jordan’s deep concern over the escalation and severity of violence there, and the potential repercussions of the crisis on all regional countries, particularly Syria’s neighbors. He cited the possibility of an increased influx of Syrian refugees into the Kingdom.
His Majesty stressed that Jordan believes in a political solution to the Syrian crisis and fully backs efforts by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan to reach a solutions that ends the bloodshed and maintains the unity and cohesion of Syria and its people. He emphasised that the aggravating situation in Syria requires concerted efforts to support Annan’s mission.
His Majesty and the British premier also discussed the Arab Spring and its impact, in addition to the economic challenges facing the region and ways to address them.
The meeting, which was attended by Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, His Majesty’s Office Director Imad Fakhoury and Jordan’s Ambassador to London Mazen Hmoud, also covered bilateral ties and prospects for increasing cooperation in various fields.
The King and Cameron also reviewed steps and measures Jordan has taken to accelerate comprehensive political, economic and social reforms.
His Majesty noted that efforts are currently focused on enacting a new elections law, under which national polls would be conducted before the end of the year, observing the highest standards of transparency and integrity, under the oversight of the Independent Elections Commission.
In this context, the King underlined the possibility of Jordan’s benefiting from British expertise to develop institutions concerned with its reform programme.
For his part, the British premier expressed appreciation for the King’s relentless efforts to support security and stability in the Middle East, and to push the peace process forward. He also commended the King’s leadership of the comprehensive reform process under way in Jordan.
Following the meeting with Cameron, His Majesty attended the Trooping the Colour, a ceremony held by the British Prime Ministry to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s birthday, a tradition that dates back to the 17th century. His Majesty was a guest of honour at the event, which included a military parade in which various military units took part.