Ammon News - AMMAN (Petra) His Majesty King Abdullah II on Wednesday met with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and discussed ways of strengthening bilateral relations and efforts to achieve peace, as well as the latest developments in the region, especially the Syrian crisis.

His Majesty stressed the importance of continued U.S. efforts to help the Palestinian and Israeli sides to re-launch negotiations based on the two-state solution, leading to the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state on pre-1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He affirmed that Jordan will continue to work with all parties to revive real and genuine peace negotiations that address all final status issues.

During the meeting attended by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, the King referred to the Arab Peace Initiative and its importance in achieving comprehensive peace in the region.

He stressed the leading U.S. role in supporting peacemaking efforts to resolve the Palestinian cause which is the crux of the conflict in the region, warning that unilateral Israeli actions and recurring attacks on Islamic and Christian sanctities constitute a real obstacle to peace efforts.

On Syria, King Abdullah said the growing number of Syrian refugees puts a tremendous burden on Jordan and its resources, calling on the international community to continue supporting the Kingdom.

The King renewed Jordan's call for finding a political, comprehensive and transitional solution to the Syrian crisis in a manner that preserves Syrian people unity and territorial integrity and wards off any disastrous repercussions on the region.

Kerry highlighted the U.S. efforts to achieve peace in the region and converge views between the Palestinians and the Israelis to revive the peace process, haling Jordan's efforts led by His Majesty the King to push peacemaking forward and promote security and stability in the Middle East.

He commended Jordan for hosting a large influx of Syrian refugees in its territory, stressing that the U.S. will continue backing Jordan in this regard and urge further international community support.