Al-Aqaba summit: Bush reiterates support for Palestinian state, Israel's security, enforcement of Roadmap implementation
Palestine-USA, Politics, 6/5/2003

US President George W. Bush said it is possible to achieve peace in the Middle East, noting that there is great progress for achieving this goal.

In a speech he delivered in conclusion of the four- member al-Aqaba meeting which was held yesterday, the US President announced that his country will dispatch a team of observers to the region to help the Israelis and the Palestinians to implement the Roadmap. He stressed support for the foundation of a Palestinian state and his commitment to guaranteeing Israel's security, noting that great progress was achieved during al-Aqaba meeting.

He spoke of the formation of a monitoring team for the implementation of the Roadmap stages -- which specifies an international peace plan for the Palestinian- Israeli conflict.

He welcomed the commitment made by the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon and the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas to improve conditions of the Palestinians and remove settlements.

Bush assigned Secretary Of State Colin Powell and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice to help sides concerned in the region to move for achieving peace.

The US president stressed in conclusion of his speech commitment to this issue, calling on all sides concerned to fulfill their obligations to achieve peace.

For his part, the Jordanian King Abdullah II said "Our ambition is to reach the foundation of a Palestinian state," noting that the mechanism conducive to achieving this ambition is the implementation of the Roadmap. In a speech he delivered, the Jordanian king called on Mahmoud Abbas and Ariel Sharon to implement the Roadmap, noting this plan will ensure to the Palestinians to achieve an end to the Israeli occupation and the founding of an independent and viable Palestinian state.

He urged the end of occupation schemes and to start the realization of peace and coexistence in the region.

Sharon also stressed Israel's approval of President Bush's vision. He said that Israel has announced its support for the vision of President Bush which he had expressed on June 24, 2002.

Sharon vowed to immediately removed unlicensed settlements installed by settlers in the West Bank.

For his part, Mahmoud Abbas called on the Palestinians to embark on peaceful means to end the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.

In a speech he delivered in conclusion of al-Aqaba meeting, he said "there is no military solution for our conflict, our way is direct negotiations to end the Palestinian- Israeli conflict," stressing the determination of the Palestinian authority to implement all its obligations and called for halting the Palestinian Intifada.

A four- member meeting was held yesterday in the Jordanian city of al-Aqaba, included the Jordanian King, the US President, the Palestinian Authority prime minister and the prime minister of Israel.

Jordanian official sources said the Jordanian king met prior to the meeting with the participants, separately. Bush also held a bilateral meeting with Sharon, followed by a similar meeting with Abbas.

Then, President Bush, Abbas and Sharon started a tripartite meeting concerning the implementation of the Roadmap. Sharon and Abbas stood with Bush in the middle for photographers.

The two sides underlined the importance that the Israeli and Palestinian side should abide by all their obligations stated in the Roadmap, of which al-Aqaba meeting constitutes the starting point to implement it until the foundation of an independent Palestinian state by 2005.

They also stressed that peace and stability in the region are not attainable except through finding out a solution for the Arab- Israeli conflict and finding out a just and comprehensive settlement for the Palestinian issue.

Previous Stories:
  Arab moderates authorize Bush to complete his program   (6/4/2003)
  Washington freezes assets of al-Aqsa society   (5/31/2003)
  Phone call between Bush, Mahmoud Abbas   (5/21/2003)
  US: state of Palestine to be declared in 2005   (5/1/2003)
  Bush releases roadmap to declaration of Palestine by 2005   (5/1/2003)

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