Ammon News - WASHINGTON His Majesty King Abdullah II and U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday held talks here on efforts needed to guarantee success of the direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations, which will start in Washington tomorrow to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution.

During a one-on-one meeting, the two leaders underscored steps needed to guarantee a swift and tangible progress in the direct talks to achieve peace and ensure the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the national soil that lives side by side with Israel in peace and security.

The King valued President Obama and the U.S. Administration's commitment to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict within a regional context and achieve a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East.

His Majesty also stressed the need to unify efforts designed to realize peace.

Peace, the King stressed, is a regional and international interest and the sole way to achieve security in the region.

Obama, for his part, commended Jordan as a key player to achieve peace in the Middle East.

The King and Obama also discussed means to promote bilateral ties as well as a number of regional and international issues of common concern.

The two leaders will further discuss peace efforts during an expanded meeting, slated to be held later today in the presence of Egyptian President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Quartet Representative Tony Blair.

The meeting was attended by Royal Court Chief Nasser Lozi, King's Advisor Ayman Safadi and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh.

On the U.S. side, the meeting was attended by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, National Security Advisor General James Jones, Special Middle East Peace Envoy George Mitchell, Deputy Envoy for Middle East Peace David Hale and other officials.

Also on Wednesday, King Abdullah II met with the Quartet Envoy Tony Blair and discussed direct Palestinian-Israeli talks, which will kick off on Thursday.

The King and Blair discussed European and International support for efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East.


* Petra