Report: Jordan prepares military base for the negotiations
The London-based al-Sharq al-Awsat daily said on Sunday, according to well-informed Jordanian sources, that Jordan actually started preparations to host the Syrian- Israeli negotiations more than two months ago and that it had prepared a military base at Um Qeis district near the Syrian borders to receive the Syrian negotiators.
In its Sunday issue, the paper added, according to Israeli government sources, due to political considerations Barak prefers to make these negotiations in Jordan, especially as his government accuses Egypt of having a negative impact on Arab negotiators.
The al-Quds daily published in the occupied Arab territories quoted Jordanian political sources as expressing fears of having "coolness between Jordan and each of Egypt and the Palestinian territories in case Jordan will host the Syrian - Israeli talks, while other sources said that there are no justifications for such fears."
In this respect, the first deputy for the Jordanian Parliament speaker, Bassam Haddadin, said Jordan is not a mediator in negotiations taking place between Israel and any Arab side, rather a supporter of the Arab negotiators, whether a Syrian or a Lebanese.
He continued: "Jordan has the honor to host the Syrian and Lebanese negotiations to contribute to reaching a just and comprehensive peace that restores back to Syria its usurped rights in the Golan."
Haddadin refused the analyses which indicate that Amman's hosting of negotiations will lead to weakening of its relations with Egypt and the Palestinian Authority. He commented: "I think, we in Jordan, do not give any attention to the question of competition with any Arab or non-Arab state," adding that Jordan's interest is first, before anything else, concentrated on giving the peace tracks a push forward.
For his part, the chairman of the Jordanian- Palestinian delegation to the Madrid conference, Kamel Abu Jaber, who is currently the chairman of the Jordanian diplomatic institute, has expressed his conviction that there will be no tensions in the relations with Egypt or with the Palestinians, because, "All these sides, altogether, want to reach a comprehensive solution regardless to the venue of the negotiations."
Abu Jaber added that Egypt has shown understanding of the importance of reaching a comprehensive solution, stressing that Egypt will welcome the negotiations of these talks in Amman.
He added, "Jordan's hosting of the Syrian-Israeli negotiations, will not underestimate Egypt's pivotal role which cannot be surpassed by any side."