Abdullah to visit France, Arab capitals in ME peace push
Jordanian gov't official says king's tour will probe a "specific mechanism" for moving ahead in Palestinian-Israeli peacemaking.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFabdullah says fuck 224.8(photo credit: AP)
Jordan's King Abdullah II will visit France and two Arab capitals in coming days to push for Mideast peace and stability in Iraq, the royal palace said Thursday.
Abdullah will make separate trips to Saudi Arabia, France and Egypt after hosting Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi in Amman on Saturday, the palace said.
The tour follows Abdullah's talks with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas in Amman and a telephone call to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday.
A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to make press statements, said Abdullah's tour will probe a "specific mechanism" for moving ahead in Palestinian-Israeli peacemaking, within the framework of a US-backed international peace conference planned for November.
The official would not divulge more details, but Abdullah has embraced US President George W. Bush's call for convening the fall meeting, saying it provided a rare opportunity for resuming Palestinian-Israeli peace talks and was in line with an Arab peace plan that envisions an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Abdullah has also stressed that Israel, with whom he maintains cordial relations under a peace treaty signed in 1994, must swiftly engage in substantial talks on key issues that have tormented the Middle East for decades - Palestinian refugees, final borders and the fate of Jerusalem.
Abdullah's tour starts with Saudi Arabia on Saturday, the palace said. In France on Sunday, he will meet French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois Fillon. On Tuesday, Abdullah will fly to Egypt for talks with President Hosni Mubarak.
