Mitchell in Jordan says US committed to comprehensive peace

Jun 11, 2009, 14:16 GMT

Amman - US Special Middle East envoy George Mitchell conferred Thursday with Jordan's King Abdullah II on the prospects of re-launching peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians and said Washington was committed to 'comprehensive' peace in the Middle East.

'As President Obama said in Cairo, we are committed to reaching comprehensive peace in the region,' Mitchell was quoted by the official Petra news agency as saying in a written statement.

He referred to US President Barack Obama's speech to the Islamic world from Cairo last week when he reiterated his support for the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Mitchell said he discussed with King Abdullah 'means of reinvigorating the peace process and finding the perspective through which the negotiations should be re-launched.'

'At the outset, both Israelis and Palestinians should honour their commitments under the roadmap, while this effort should be backed and built upon by all states concerned with the establishment of peace, including the United States, the Europeans and the Arabs,' he added.

King Abdullah praised the 'positive attitudes and important messages included in Obama's speech in Cairo, particularly his support for the two-state solution and building up relations between the United States and both the Arab and Islamic worlds, based on mutual respect and common interests,' according to a royal court statement.

'The president's stands have created a positive environment which requires that all parties cooperate in efforts aimed at finding a comprehensive and durable settlement in the region,' the monarch said.

He urged 'immediate moves to re-launch the negotiations which should be based on a clear plan and lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in accordance with the two-state formula, as the sole way for maintaining peace and stability in the region.'

Mitchell made a stopover in Amman on his way from Cairo to Beirut in the course of a regional tour that also included visits to Israel and the Palestinian territories. He is also scheduled to visit Syria.