His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday reiterated that the US-proposed Annapolis meeting should be devoted to solving the Palestinian issue, including creating an independent state.

During a meeting with visiting Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the German Bundestag Ruprecht Polenz, King Abdullah said the upcoming meeting must yield positive results, pushing peace efforts forward to a comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

Essential to the peace process is a solution to the Palestinian issue, in accordance with international resolutions and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, the King said.

King Abdullah underlined the important role Germany and the EU play in supporting peace efforts and encouraging concerned parties to participate in a serious peace process. Discussions between the King and the German official also covered the political crisis in Lebanon.

King Abdullah stressed the importance of finding a solution to the crisis through dialogue and by using the national interest of all parties to preserve the unity and sovereignty of Lebanon.

On bilateral ties, King Abdullah commended “solid ties” between Jordan and Germany and stressed Jordan's interest in enhancing cooperation in all fields.

The King also referred to his upcoming visit to Germany, where he will meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel, noting that the two leaders will focus on discussing bilateral ties and the regional peace process in addition to Germany's role, as the current chair of the G-8, in supporting the Lower-Middle Income Countries Initiative (G-11), which focuses on improving the economies of these countries.

Polenz voiced Germany's appreciation for King Abdullah's efforts to bring about just and comprehensive peace in the region.

According to the German official, Annapolis will be a turning point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He said the difficulty is not in drawing up a solution, but in implementing it.

“Everybody knows what the two-state solution looks like. But how do you get from here to there?” remarked Polenz.

Palestine needs international assistance in developing its institutions, Polenz said, adding that Israel needs the Arab Peace Initiative to provide full recognition of Israel and to build a working relationship with all Arab League members.