His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday discussed with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon the UN's role in achieving peace and stability in the region and the world.

During a meeting in New York with the UN chief, King Abdullah voiced appreciation for the international organisation's contribution to peace efforts in the Middle East and the assistance it extends to the Palestinian people to alleviate their hardships under an economic siege imposed by Israel.

During the talks, attended by Her Majesty Queen Rania, the King reviewed Jordan's efforts to advance regional peacemaking and to ensure that the negotiations under way between the Palestinians and Israel achieve tangible results that lead to the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state.

The King, who arrived in New York earlier in the day at the start of a working visit to the US, also commended the role the UN is playing to enhance Iraq's stability and security and create better living conditions for the Iraqi people.

King Abdullah said Jordan strongly supports the Arab initiative to end the political impasse in Lebanon.

Ban hailed Jordan's participation in UN-led peacekeeping forces and its Mideast peace efforts.