Italian president meets Jordan's King Abdullah on Mideast peace process

Jordan's King Abdullah II met on Tuesday with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in an attempt to resume peace talks in the Middle East.

King Abdullah arrived in Rome on Monday for his first institutional visit at the invitation of Napolitano.

Talks between Abdullah and Napolitano focused primarily on developments in the Middle East and efforts towards a resumption of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

The Italian president voiced his concern regarding the stalemate of the peace process.

"We look forward to a rapid dialogue recovery between Israel and the Palestine Authority because it is essential to reach a stable and durable peace agreement," said Napolitano at the end of the bilateral meeting.

He added that Jordan can play a central role in the peace process in that it "represents a pillar of stability for the entire region." He praised King Abdullah's "enlightened work, in times of great tension, to promote dialogue and understanding between the religions."

Napolitano explained that all the countries of the Middle East are paying a price, as are all the countries of the Mediterranean, as the conflict is "an obstacle which is preventing the full exploitation of these countries' economies and societies."

The Italian president went on urging a re-launch of negotiations aimed at creating long-lasting conditions of peace and security in the region. "These negotiations were started 16 years ago at Oslo and still haven't come to conclusion," he added.

King Abdullah praised Italy's contribution in building peace in the region. He urged Israel to stop the settlements' construction and said he looked forward to the creation of two states as the sole means of escaping the Middle East impasse.

"If we don't work hard to reach a shared solution the conflict is fated to continue," he warned. King Abdullah has repeatedly called for a strong intervention by Europe and the United States in the Middle East peace process.

The Jordan king met as well Italian Foreign Affairs Minister Franco Frattini, Senate and Chamber of Deputies leaders Renato Schifani and Gianfranco Fini.

King Abdullah's four-day visit in Italy will also concentrate on means of boosting bilateral ties, particularly in the economic and trade spheres.

Source: Xinhua