Jordan, France discuss ways to revive Mideast peace talks

Jordan and France on Sunday discussed ways to revive the currently stalled Middle East peace process between Palestinians and Israelis, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

During a meeting in Amman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs Nasser Judeh discussed with France's Middle East peace process special envoy, Pierre Vimont, the issues concerning the Middle East including the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

The envoy's visit aims to brief Jordanian officials about Paris' efforts towards reviving the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks in coordination with Amman following, last week's phone conversation between Amman's foreign minister and his French counterpart.

Judeh and Vimont agreed that all concerned parties should work towards providing conducive conditions in order to establish the two-state solution.

The minister reiterated Jordan's support towards efforts in favor of the two-state solution, with Palestine becoming an independent state along the demarked borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Judeh also stressed that the Palestinian issue is the key regional issue and will most likely remain so for some time.

He then emphasized the need for a just and comprehensive solution in line with the terms of the peace process, international legislative resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

All outstanding issues should be resolved along those lines, said Judeh, "in a manner which safeguards Jordan's top national interests which are associated with these issues, particularly Jerusalem and the refugees."

Vimont summarized France's recommendations for resuming the stalled peace process under international auspices, and stressed Paris' interest to coordinate with Jordan on this issue, pointing out that the Kingdom plays a pivotal role in the peace process since its interests are tied to the end solution. Endit