French foreign minister arrives in Jordan

Jordan and France have asserted the need for the establishment of a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on UN Security Council resolutions 242, 338 and 425 and the land-for-peace formula.

During their talks on Sunday in Amman, French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine and his Jordanian counterpart, Abdul Illah al-Khatib, dealt with bilateral relations, the Middle East peace process and issues of common interest.

The Jordanian minister indicated that viewpoints shared by the leaders of the two countries are identical concerning the Middle East peace process and the importance of giving this process a push forward.

The Jordanian minister voiced his country's backing for Lebanon and Syria in the Middle East peace process. He called for an unconditional Israeli pullback from south Lebanon, according to international legitimacy resolutions.

In a joint press conference held in Amman on Sunday with his French counterpart, the Jordanian minister said that withdrawal should be carried out without any negative consequences in the region.

For his part, the French minister stressed his country's stand in calling for achieving a just and comprehensive peace. He expressed his country's sorrow at the halt of negotiations on the Syrian track.

He confirmed France's desire to resume negotiations on the Syrian track and its efforts to help the Israeli and Syrian sides achieve a just and comprehensive peace.

Vedrine started on Sunday his official visit to Jordan in talks with his Jordanian counterpart, Abdul Illah al-Khatib, centered on the situation in the Middle East.

A Jordanian official source said that Vedrine will discuss during his visit to Jordan bilateral relations and the latest developments concerning the Middle East peace process.

The French minister arrived in Amman on Thursday on a private visit, during which he toured several tourism sites in the country.