Jordan's King Abdullah II on Sunday urged the Palestinian and Iraqis to overcome their differences, unite their ranks against sedition and embrace dialogue as a means to reach mutual understanding and settle disputes. "We tell the Palestinians ... unite your ranks and seize the available opportunity to realise peace and establish your independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip," the king said in his speech from the throne at the opening of the first ordinary session of the new parliament.
He also called on Israel to end the occupation of Arab and Palestinian lands. "We emphatically tell Israel that ending the occupation of Arab and Palestinian lands, withdrawing therefrom and implementing legitimate international resolutions are the only ways to realise just, permanent and comprehensive peace, and to guarantee a safe future for the region's peoples and its coming generations."
According to Petra news agency, the king has welcomed the peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, as "important and serious."
Regarding domestic issues, King Abdullah added:" As for our economy, one of the most important priorities is increasing the economic growth rate, enhancing financial and monetary stability, handling the debt problem, rationalizing expenditure, boosting our self-reliance, enhancing the role of the private sector in national development and building on the achievements that have been realized by Jordan in the signing of Arab, regional and international economic agreements, so that Jordan becomes an economic centre attractive to investors".
© 2007 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
