Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - His Majesty King Abdullah, in talks on Friday with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée Palace, affirmed the need to step up international efforts to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and achieve just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution, guaranteeing the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital.

King Abdullah stressed the importance of ending provocative Israeli measures in Jerusalem, a city that is the cornerstone for peace in the region.

His Majesty called for preserving the legal and historical status quo at Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif, affirming that Jordan, in line with the Hashemite Custodianship, is committed to its historical and religious role in safeguarding Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.

The King expressed appreciation for France’s and the European Union’s position in support of the two-state solution, stressing the importance of uniting international positions in this regard.

Talks also covered the Syrian crisis and the importance of reaching a political solution that guarantees Syria’s territorial integrity and the unity of its people.

The status of the Golan Heights as occupied Syrian territory, according to international law and UN resolutions, was also stressed.

Moreover, talks covered international and regional efforts to counter terrorism within a holistic approach.

On bilateral ties, His Majesty and President Macron discussed opportunities to bolster economic and military cooperation, with the King expressing appreciation for France’s support for development programmes in Jordan, and for its participation in the London Initiative Conference in the UK to support the Jordanian economy.

His Majesty highlighted the importance of the memorandum of understanding signed between the Jordanian government and the Agence Française de Développement on the sidelines of the London Initiative Conference, under which the agency would present a development package of up to 1 billion euros over the next four years to support priority development and service projects.

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Adviser to His Majesty and Director of the Office of His Majesty Manar Dabbas, Jordan’s Ambassador to France Bisher Khasawneh, a number of senior French officials, and France’s Ambassador to Jordan David Bertolotti attended the talks.