the region that
want to make a constructive contribution to regional peace-making.
The King told Rice that growing international
interest in regional peace-making is an opportunity that
the United States could capitalize on to bring Palestinians
and Israelis back to the negotiating table with the aim
of brokering a final settlement that would meet the needs
of both sides. However, he also warned that Israeli activities
in and around Jerusalem, particularly near Islamic holy
sites, threatened to undermine international and Arab peace-making
efforts.
During his talks with Rice, King Abdullah
called last week's announcement that Iraq would host interested
parties for a security conference an important development.
He said that the crisis in Iraq affects all of Iraq's neighbors,
and that Arab states are keen to contribute to Iraq's security
and stability.
King Abdullah is on a five-day working
visit to the US to advance Arab diplomacy for Middle East
peace. While in the US, he will also meet with US President
George W. Bush, as well as key elected representatives.
On Wednesday, he will address a joint meeting of Congress.
His trip to the US was preceded by meetings with Arab leaders
in Riyadh and Cairo, and a stop in London where the King
also met British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
During today's meeting with Secretary
Rice, which followed talks with Vice President Dick Cheney
and Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the King said Jordan
also is counting on US support to institutionalize a relationship
between the G8 and the G11, a collective of lower-middle
income countries that are working together to solve similar
development challenges and stabilize at higher income levels.
He explained that Jordan is also pressing
ahead with key economic, social and political reforms.
Ahead of US trip, King Abdullah
announced that Jordan would hold national parliamentary
and municipal elections this year.
