Three Arab leaders urge progress in serious talks (2nd Roundup)

Aug 12, 2010, 22:08 GMT

Amman - Jordan's King Abdullah II met separately Thursday in Cairo with Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on ways to achieve 'progress' in the Israeli- Palestinian talks, according to the official Petra news agency.

King Abdullah, accompanied by Prime Minister Samir Rifai and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, met with Mubarak to discuss steps 'to launch serious and effective negotiations' on a basis that ensures progress toward 'establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital,' said a joint communique carried by Petra.

The two leaders alluded to the direct negotiations that the United States wants both Israel and the Palestinians to move to as soon as possible to address the final status issues.

Abdullah and Mubarak urged the world community 'to intensify efforts to ensure the accomplishment of the two-state vision,' with a Palestinian state living in peace with Israel.

The issue of transition to direct talks appeared to have figured prominently in Abbas' separate meetings Thursday with both King Abdullah and Mubarak.

During his meeting with the Jordanian head of state at the Cairo Airport, Abbas briefed Abdullah on his meeting Wednesday with US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, Petra said.

Abbas and Abdullah 'discussed obstacles that face the achievement of progress in peace efforts that seek to resolve the Palestinian- Israeli conflict' on the basis of the two-state formula.

An Arab League panel, comprising foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt and other Arab countries, has given the green light to the Palestinian Authority to move to direct talks, but gave Abbas the option to decide the timing.

According to Palestinian diplomats, Jordan and Egypt supported Abbas's viewpoint that the latest statement issued by the Middle East Quartet should be accepted by Israel as a reference for the direct negotiations.

Among other things, the Quartet's statement calls for setting up a Palestinian state with the 1967 boundaries as its borders. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly rejected the Palestinian stand, considering it a precondition. dpa ajm ffMideast-Conflicts/Jordan/Egypt/ 2ND ROUNDUP: Three Arab leaders urge progress in serious talks =

Amman (dpa) - Jordan's King Abdullah II met separately Thursday in Cairo with Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on ways to achieve 'progress' in the Israeli- Palestinian talks, according to the official Petra news agency.

King Abdullah, accompanied by Prime Minister Samir Rifai and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, met with Mubarak to discuss steps 'to launch serious and effective negotiations' on a basis that ensures progress toward 'establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital,' said a joint communique carried by Petra.

The two leaders alluded to the direct negotiations that the United States wants both Israel and the Palestinians to move to as soon as possible to address the final status issues.

Abdullah and Mubarak urged the world community 'to intensify efforts to ensure the accomplishment of the two-state vision,' with a Palestinian state that lives in peace with Israel.

The issue of transition to direct talks appeared to have figured prominently in Abbas' separate meetings Thursday with both King Abdullah and Mubarak.

During his meeting with the Jordanian head of state at the Cairo Airport, Abbas briefed Abdullah on the outcome of his meeting on Wednesday with US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, Petra said.

'The two leaders discussed obstacles that face the achievement of progress in peace efforts that seek to resolve the Palestinian- Israeli conflict' on the basis of the two-state formula.

An Arab League panel, that comprises foreign ministers of both Jordan and Egypt as well as other Arab countries, has given the green light to the Palestinian Authority to move to direct talks, but gave Abbas the option to decide the timing.

According to Palestinian diplomats, Jordan and Egypt supported Abbas's viewpoint that the latest statement issued by the Middle East Quartet should be accepted by Israel as a reference for the direct negotiations.

Among other things, the Quartet's statement calls for the setting up of a Palestinian state with the 1967 lines as its borders. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly rejected the Palestinian stand, considering it as a precondition.