RIYADH, 28 February 2008 - The political standoff in Lebanon, the forthcoming Arab summit in Syria and the vulnerable situation in Palestine topped the agenda of the talks between Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Jordanian King Abdullah II here yesterday. The wide-ranging talks during the several-hour visit of King Abdullah to the Saudi capital also focused on the latest developments in the Middle East region with special reference to Saudi-Jordanian relation.
"King Abdullah II flew to Riyadh mainly for consultations with Saudi leaders ahead of his US trip due to start Thursday," said an Arab diplomat, here yesterday. He said: "the Jordanian king's visit came within the framework of the political consultations among Arab leaders on ways of addressing challenges facing the Arab nation."
Upon arrival, King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense & aviation, received the Jordanian leader.
Jordan's Royal Court Chief Bassem Awadallah, advisor Sharif Fawwaz Zabin Abdullah and Director of Jordan's Intelligence Department, Lt. Gen. Mohammad Dahabi are accompanying the Jordanian king. The Saudi-Jordan summit talks are important keeping in view the Jordanian king's forthcoming trip to the US, where he is expected to discuss with President Bush the whole gamut of regional issues.
The Jordanian leader is also expected to put pressure on Israel to show more cooperation in its current talks with the Palestinian Authority. According to a statement released by the White House Press Office yesterday, Bush will welcome King Abdullah II and Queen Rania to the White House on March 4. Bush and Abdullah II, the statement further said, will discuss the situation in Lebanon, Palestinian-Israeli peace efforts and other issues confronting Middle East region.
Referring to the subjects of talks with Saudi king, the diplomat said: "The talks between King Abdullah and Jordanian leader dealt on the chances of concluding a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians on core issues before the end of 2008 as envisaged earlier by US President George W Bush". "High on the agenda of King Abdullah II's discussions with Saudi leaders was also the Arab summit conference due to be held in Damascus at the end of March," he said.
According to a report published today, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt are coordinating their efforts and trying to convince Syria to extend due assistance to Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa in his current endeavors to forge reconciliation in Lebanon in the run-up to the election of a new president. The summit-level discussions yesterday also covered the current situation in the Middle East and the role Jordan was playing to help the Palestinians and Israelis to reach a just and durable settlement to the Palestinian question.
