His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday said the region was in urgent need of activating the Quartet of Mideast peace mediators.

The King told EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana at a meeting that Europeans play an important role in pushing the peace process forward and help Palestinians and Israelis resume negotiations.

Solana was on a regional tour to push for peace ahead of a February New York meeting of the Quartet, which comprises the US, EU, UN and Russia. The group endorsed the roadmap to the Middle East peace process, which envisions the creation of a Palestinian state.

“The current atmosphere is positive and suitable to relaunch the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis, and all available opportunities should be seized,” said King Abdullah.

Solana said the time was right to put the peace process back on track, moving from crisis management to conflict resolution.

“We think there is an opportunity now, an opportunity we should not let go of,” Solana told reporters following talks with King Abdullah, according to the Associated Press.

The Jordan Times