His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday emphasised the importance of Europe's role in helping overcome obstacles to direct Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations.

During a meeting with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel çngel Moratinos, King Abdullah said direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations need an enabling environment and that unilateral Israeli measures, particularly settlement construction, represent a threat to the direct talks.

The King said the region will remain hostage to tension and violence if peace efforts fail to achieve tangible progress.

He said regional peace is conditioned upon a two-state solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state living in peace and security next to Israel.

The two European ministers briefed King Abdullah on the outcomes of their visit to the region and the steps the European Union plans to take to support peace efforts.