is necessary for there to be peace," he added.

During the summit meeting with President Bush, Ki9ng Abdullah affirmed the necessity to go ahead with peace efforts to reach a just, comprehensive and balanced solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict that guarantees the establishment of a sovereign and democratic viable Palestinian state and provides true security to Israel to live in peace with its neighbors. The road map is the sole opportunity to strengthen peace in the region, said the King, who underlined the U.S. role to realize this objective and encourage the Palestinians and the Israelis to take bold steps in that direction. Fulfilling the Palestinians' hopes to establish their state on their national soil under provisions of the road map would help contribute to strengthening security and stability in the entire region including Israel, King Abdullah. He stressed Israel's plan to withdraw from Gaza Strip should part of the road map implementation and the first step for a complete Israeli pullout from all Palestinian territories

King Abdullah urged for extending support to the Palestinian leadership in its efforts to hold election and build stronger Palestinian institution. Israel should also be committed to offering all necessary facilities to hold Palestinian elections that would come up with a leadership representing all Palestinians and capable of being an effective partner in peace making, said the King during the meeting, which was attended by the delegation accompanying him on the visit. It is also the responsibility of the international community to assume its role with the concerned parties to move forward and remove the obstacles hindering peace in the region, the King noted, stressing the importance of committing the Palestinians and the Israelis to go back to the negotiation table. On the situation in Iraq, King Abdullah stressed the importance of extending all possible support to help the Iraqi government hold free elections that represent all Iraqi sects. " Iraq is for all Iraqis and holding free, comprehensive and not partial elections is the one that ensures the participation of all Iraqis in building their future," King Abdullah said. Within this context, King Abdullah reiterated Jordan's full support to the Iraqi people to help them surmount the difficult circumstances they are passing through. " We are looking forward to seeing independent Iraq void of violence with all its sects living in security and stability," King Abdullah said.

In another development, King Abdullah condemned the terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia which killed a number of innocent people and reaffirmed Jordan's staunch and firm position in fighting all forms of terrorism. Establishing just and durable peace is the only to eradicate all forms of violence and extremism, King Abdullah said, urging for concerted international efforts to eliminate this phenomena which forms a flagrant violation of human values. The King's talks at the White House covered bilateral relations particularly in economic, political and investment areas. King Abdullah, who valued the U.S. support to back Jordan's economic, social reform plans, said " We in Jordan have accomplished wide strides in political, economic and social reforms and in promoting democracy and political pluralism." Jordan has become a model for reform process in the region, he added

King Abdullah has another meeting at residence in Washington with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Middle East Affairs William Burns. Talks during the meeting focused on bilateral relations and the situation in Iraq and Palestine. "The King's meetings with President Bush are useful to all of us," Burns said in press remarks following the meeting. Jordan will remain a model in terms of its commitment to political and economic fields which are bound to improve citizens' lives, he said. The U.S. will take more steps in the coming weeks and months to strengthen relations with Jordan, Burns added. He described his talks with King Abdullah as excellent and served as an significant opportunity to exchange views and work together to seize the present opportunity and help the Palestinians hold their presidential elections and revive hope for reaching a solution to conflict in the region. Reaching a two-state solution is not only important for the Palestinians and the Israelis but also for the Jordanians and the Americans as well, said Burns, who confirmed the U.S. Administration's commitment to implementing the road map peace plan. He said Jordan has played a vital role in supporting national interests of the Iraqi people. King Abdullah also met U.S. National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice in presence of the King's Advisor for National Security and Director of the General Intelligence Department Genera Saed Kheir. Talks during the meeting centered on developments in the region particularly on the Palestinian and Iraqi scenes.