Abdullah II, British Foreign Secretary Discuss Ties

His Majesty King Abdullah II met with visiting British Foreign Secretary William Hague to discuss Jordanian–British ties as well as the latest developments in the Middle East. Discussions during the meeting focused on efforts to achieve peace in the region.

His Majesty stressed the importance of re-launching negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis, based on the two-state solution, as the only means to end the Palestinian–Israeli conflict and to achieve security and stability in the region. The King pointed to the historical opportunity provided by the Arab Peace Initiative to establish peace between Israel and Arab and Islamic countries and called for investment in this initiative to acheive a fair and comprehensive peace in the region.

King Abdullah highlighted the importance of the European role, mainly that of the British, in advancing peace the foundation of which is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. He said Israel should immediately halt its unilateral actions, especially the construction of settlements. His Majesty discussed the ongoing Israeli violations against holy places in Jerusalem and the negative impact of such actions on reviving the peace process. On the Syrian crisis, King Abdullah said the growing number of Syrian refugees in the Kingdom was placing an additional burden on the country. He urged the international community to shoulder the responsibility of providing support to the Kingdom. He also affirmed Jordan's support of a transitional political solution to the Syrian crisis that will preserve the unity of Syria's people and lands. The British foreign secretary reviewed his country's stance on the developments in the Middle East and praised the King's efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. He acknowledged efforts exerted by US Secretary of State John Kerry to end the current stalemate in the peace process.

Hague said Britain would continue to support the Kingdom and urged the international community to assist Jordan in its relief efforts for the Syrians. Further, he praised Jordan's efforts to host the Syrian refugees and provide services to them, despite its limited resources. The meeting was attended by Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs Nasser Judeh, Director of the King's Office Imad Fakhoury, the King's Advisor Abdullah Wreikat, and British Ambassador to Jordan Peter Millett.