His Majesty King Abdullah on Saturday held talks with King Hamad Ben Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain focusing on the latest regional developments.

The King Abdullah and the Bahraini king, who arrived yesterday on a two-day official visit to the country, also reviewed aspects of bilateral relations and the means to activate Jordanian-Bahraini relations, particularly in the fields of economy and commerce.

The King briefed his Bahraini counterpart on the outcome of his meetings and efforts to help revive the Middle East peace process and jump-start negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis on the basis of the Arab Peace Initiative launched during the 2002 Arab summit.

The two leaders agreed to intensify efforts to maintain the momentum achieved so far to relaunch the peace process to help arrive at a just and a viable solution to the Palestinian question.

They also stressed that the upcoming Arab summit should arrive at a unified Arab position vis-à-vis challenges facing the Arab nations and mobilize support for the Arab Peace Initiative, which was agreed upon during the Arab summit in Beirut five years ago.

The two leaders stressed their support for the Palestinian Authority and expressed hope that the formation of the new Palestinian unity government will represent a key step to lift the blockade imposed on the Palestinians and empower them to take part in negotiations with Israel.

The Bahraini monarch voiced his appreciation of King Abdullah's recent speech in the US Congress, his support for the Palestinian issue and the right of the Palestinian people to live in peace and stability.

In addition, the two leaders expressed hope Iraq's different sects and political factions would reach consensus to end the violence and move on to a new phase where the country's sovereignty and stability would be restored.

Earlier in the day, King Abdullah and King Hamad attended military exercises in the southern zone.

The Jordan Times