Their Majesties King Abdullah II and Queen Rania returned home today following a short visit to Egypt.

During the visit, His Majesty held talks with the Egyptian President Muhammad Hosni Mubarak which comes in the context of the Jordanian efforts which seek to crystallize an active Arab role at this stage that would lead to an Iraqi government which would represent all segments of the Iraqi people and would be in charge of all matters in order to ensure the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Iraq as soon as possible.

His Majesty stressed the necessity to exert all efforts to restore normal life in Iraq that would guarantee that the Iraqis administer their own affairs and activate the functions of civil institutions. He also reiterated the importance of preserving the unity of Iraqi territories and the sovereignty of its people on their own territories and the need to support the Iraqi people in choosing their leadership and charting their future.

During the meeting that was attended by the Prime Minister, Ministers of the Royal Hashemite Court and Foreign Affairs, and the advisor at the Royal Hashemite Court, the two leaders expressed their concern for the deteriorating living and security conditions in Iraq. They stressed the importance that the international community assumes its responsibility in supporting the Iraqi people and taking part in the reconstruction of Iraq. They also asserted the need to have an Arab role in this regard.

His Majesty and the Egyptian President also discussed the latest developments on the Palestinian issue. The reaffirmed the importance of dealing positively with the roadmap particularly that it has been approved by the international community. The two leaders stressed the need to intensify efforts in order to start the implementation of the roadmap as soon as possible to ensure the establishment of a Palestinian State in three years and the withdrawal of Israel from all occupied territories.

His Majesty King Abdullah II and the Egyptian President Muhammad Hosni Mubarak called Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and urged him to accelerate the formation of the Palestinian government in order to start working on the implementation of the roadmap. They stressed the importance of not wasting the opportunity available now in order to realize real progress.

From the Egyptian side, the meeting was attended by the Prime Minister and Ministers of Information and Foreign Affairs.

In media statements, Dr. Marwan Muasher, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that the Jordanian efforts spearheaded by His Majesty King Abdullah II primarily aim to crystallize a united Arab position that would ensure an Arab stance towards the future of Iraq.

Dr. Muasher pointed out that His Majesty will make a visit to Bahrain tomorrow followed by a visit to Saudi Arabia in the context of coordinating with the leaders of the two countries the Arab position towards Iraq.

In a separate meeting, Queen Rania and Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak discussed the humanitarian situation in Iraq. Her Majesty talked about the suffering faced by Iraqi children and women and means for providing support and aid to the Iraqi people.

Her Majesty and Mrs. Mubarak stressed the importance of activating the role of the Arab Women Organization to take part in supporting Iraqi women and children and ease their suffering at the prevailing circumstances.