Jordanian King is concerned over the Palestinian question; chances to avoid the war becomes little

The Jordanian King Abdullah II said that the chances to avoid the likely war against Iraq has become "small" under the current situation in the region and the world. He warned against the consequences of conditions after the war and its destructive reflections on the Palestinian question and other Middle East states.

In a meeting with the Jordanian writers and the press, Abdullah said that Jordan "exerted relentless efforts with various international forces to prevent the occurrence of the war against Iraq," expressing concern over the increasing possibilities of its occurrence and "its impact on the Iraqi people and the Palestinian question which is still witnessing complexities and a stalemate."

While he stressed that the Arab states are looking forward to solve this issue by means of "dialogue and diplomatic means" the Jordanian king said that his country supports "any and each effort or initiative that deters dangers of war." Abdullah added that Amman has taken all "measures to alleviate the consequences of the likely war," stressing "that the Jordanian economy is able to shoulder the responsibilities of the war." He, for the first time, announced "promises from Arab states to provide crude oil to Jordan in case oil is stopped to arrive from Iraq," noting that "there is still enough crude oil in Jordan." He also stressed that Jordan was promised by financial aids to compensate certain losses ( of the war).

Jordan, however, seeks to double the volume of the American aid for this year 2003 to one billion dollars in order to withstand the implications of the war against Iraq, its number one trade partner.

On the expectations to expel the Palestinians to Jordan, King Abdullah said "this will not happen." He stressed continued efforts aiming at "ending the Israeli occupation and eliminating the sufferings of the Palestinian people."