Jordanian Premier confers with Dutch FM

Dutch Foreign Minister Jozias van Aartsen described his talks with Jordanian Prime Minister Abdul Raouf al-Rawabedah and Foreign Minister Abdul Illah al-Khatib as important and centred on developments concerning the Middle East peace process. He indicated that there is a new chance to achieve progress on the Palestinian track.

In a statement before leaving Amman for Damascus on Thursday, the Dutch FM said that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak will materialize his sayings into actions concerning the Palestinian track.

He indicated two points that are still unresolved between the Palestinian and Israeli sides: the question of detainees in the Israeli jails and the question of implementing the third phase of redeployment. But he expressed his conviction that there is a possibility of reaching an agreement towards these two points in the near future.

Al-Khatib said that during the talks with the Dutch minister he stressed Jordan's backing for "the brothers in Syria and Lebanon," expressing the need to resume negotiations from the point at which they broke off, as peace and security in the region will not be available without maintaining a solution covering all sides.

The Dutch FM stressed his country's backing for the Middle East peace process.