EU's Ashton in Jordan says "urgent" to restart peace process

Jun 16, 2011, 18:34 GMT

Amman - Jordan and the European Union on Thursday agreed to push ahead with efforts to jump-start stalled peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel.

The remarks came during talks between the visiting EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton and Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh.

'With the momentous events going on in North Africa and following President Obama's speech last month, it is more urgent than ever that we kick start the Middle East peace process,' Ashton said.

She said that the EU would continue 'consultation and cooperation with Jordan' in endeavours to ensure a resumption of the US-brokered direct talks between the Palestinians and Israel.

The Palestinian Authority withdrew from the negotiations last September after the Israeli government failed to extend a moratorium on settlement building in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.

From his part, Judeh underscored the 'important EU role in pushing forward the peace talks whether individually or through the EU membership in the Middle East quartet'.

Ashton arrived in Jordan at the outset of a regional tour which is due to take her also to Israel, the Palestinian territories and Egypt.

She is due to travel on Friday to Israel for meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders and to Egypt on Saturday.

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