His Majesty King Abdullah II held talks in Aqaba today with US Vice President Dick Cheney on developments in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq as well as ways to expand bilateral ties.
Cheney's visit to Jordan is part of a regional tour that has taken him to Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The American vice president is trying to build support for efforts to ease tensions in Iraq, end sectarian violence and encourage national reconciliation between disputing factions.
King Abdullah stressed Jordan's support for efforts to end the dangerous escalation of violence which is undermining efforts to restore security and stability in Iraq and threatens to heighten tensions in the region.
The King reiterated the importance of achieving national reconciliation and including all sectors of Iraqi society in the political process. He said reinforcing security and establishing stability in Iraq is in the interest of the country as well as a key Jordanian interest.
During the talks with Cheney, King Abdullah emphasized that the US plays a key role in helping the Palestinians and Israelis return to the negotiating table in order to reach a final settlement of the Palestinian issue.
The King told Cheney that the Arab Peace Initiative still represented an opportunity to advance peace and end the Arab-Israeli conflict. Time is not on anyone's side, he said. He also stressed the need to set a time frame to establish tangible results on the ground.
King Abdullah also briefed Vice President Cheney on Jordan's extensive diplomatic efforts to advance peace and garner support for the Arab Peace Initiative, particularly among Palestinian and Israeli moderates and peace activists.
Talks also touched on the question of the international dispute concerning Iran's nuclear capabilities. King Abdullah reiterated Jordan's position in support of a peaceful resolution to the issue that would spare the region further tensions.
His Majesty and the US vice president also discussed bilateral ties and Cheney's regional tour.