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KING ABDULLAH of JORDAN and OBAMA - Tea and Talking Peace in the Middle East

Barack Obama having tea with King Abdullah of Jordan in a one-on-one meeting in the Oval.

White House Photo by Pete Souza

'...I'd also like to extend a warm thanks on behalf of many Arabs and Muslims who really had an outstanding response to the President's outreach to the Muslim Arab world. It has gone on extremely well and really begins I believe a new page of mutual respect and mutual understanding between cultures. And I will -- I continue to commit Jordan and myself to working with you, Mr. President. You have given us hope for a bright future for all of us...'  -- KING ABDULLAH

REMARKS BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND KING ABDULLAH OF JORDAN IN JOINT PRESS AVAILABILITY
White House, Oval Office, April 21st, 2009

PRESIDENT OBAMA: Hello, everybody. Take your time, guys. We're going to answer a few questions.

First of all, I just want to welcome His Majesty King Abdullah to the White House. This is a first visit by a leader of another state; in part, it's reciprocity for the extraordinary hospitality that the King and Queen showed me when I visited Jordan prior to the election -- in which the King had personally drove me to the airport. And I won't tell you how fast he was going. (Laughter.)

But more importantly, it's representative of his excellent leadership internationally, as well as a unmatched friendship with the United States upon a whole range of issues. I think that King Abdullah represents a modern approach to foreign policy-making in the Middle East, a approach that is able to see many different sides of an issue, that is obviously constantly mindful of Jordanian interests, but also seeks to resolve issues and conflicts in a peaceful and respectful fashion.

We are very pleased to have been able to work so closely with his government for many years. It is a great friendship between two great countries and two great peoples. And I am confident that that friendship will only be strengthened.

Very briefly, we spoke obviously about a Middle East peace process, my commitment as well as his to moving that process forward with some sense of urgency. We spoke about the broader hope on a range of issues related to Iran and Afghanistan; the issues of terrorism in the region. We spoke about the impact that the economic crisis may be having on both our countries and the need to promote effective international cooperation around those issues. And I'm confident that in the months and years to come our partnership and our friendship will continue to grow.

Jordan's King Abdullah speaks with Clinton on 'how to bring Israelis and Palestinians to the negotiation table'

Jordanian King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein met with US Secy. of State Hillary Clinton, Washington, DC, April 21, 2009 and made these remarks to the press prior to their meeting:

SECRETARY CLINTON:  Well, His Majesty is no stranger either to the State Department or to Washington.  He has been a partner, an ally and a friend of the United States on behalf of his country and on behalf of the search for peace that would result from a two-state solution in the Middle East.  And I am deeply honored and greatly delighted to welcome His Majesty back to the State Department for the series of important meetings.

 

KING ABDULLAH:  Mrs. Clinton, thank you very much.  It’s a great honor for me to be back here in Washington.  We’ve had some very fruitful discussions this morning with President Obama.  I’m here at the State Department now to go over the priorities that Jordan and Arab countries need to put in front of themselves on how to bring Israelis and Palestinians to the negotiation table, and hopefully open a new chapter of peace and stability in the Middle East and move the peace process forward.

 

So it is a great honor to be here, and I look forward to working with you, Mrs. Clinton, and working as hard as we can to finally bring peace and stability to the Middle East.

US-ISRAEL: Mitchell, Israeli Foreign Minister to talk Annapolis Process, 2-State Solution

FROM US STATE DEPT: Special Envoy Mitchell held a series of meetings with senior Israeli officials on April 15 and 16. They discussed the full range of issues. Special Envoy Mitchell looks forward to working with Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government toward comprehensive peace.

...Senator Mitchell had a very good and candid discussion with Foreign Minister Lieberman. Senator Mitchell reiterated what U.S. policy is with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. And by that, I mean our pursuit of a two-state solution with the two countries living side-by-side in peace. With regard to Foreign Minister Lieberman’s comments, I’d have to refer you to him or his office. But Senator Mitchell, you know, made it clear what the U.S. position is with regard to -- ...Two-state solution...
... It’s been very clear that out of Annapolis, there were a number of different elements that the U.S. Government and the other parties were committed to. And certainly, Roadmap obligations are important, making sure that we don’t take steps that further inflame tensions in the region, taking steps that don’t contribute to a positive atmosphere. So the foreign minister is well aware, as is the rest of the Israeli Government, about what the United States wants to see happen in the region.

It’s a new government. There are going to be comments coming from various officials in terms of their views. Senator Mitchell looks forward to working with the new government, and of course with the Palestinians and others, to try to reach that two-state solution, Matt. It’s not going to be easy and there are going to be ups and downs in this process, as we have them in the North Korea – the Six-Party process. So you know, we just have to dig in, roll up our sleeves, and continue to go to work, because that’s what the people of the region – they would expect no less from us.

US DEPT. OF STATE --Daily Press Briefing -- Robert Wood, Acting Department Spokesman, April 16, 2009

US Envoy off to ISRAEL, EGYPT after MOROCCO, ALGIERS, TUNIS

Special Envoy Mitchell was in Rabat today and met with Moroccan Foreign Minister Fassi Fihri and other senior government officials earlier this morning. He traveled to Algiers where he met with President Bouteflika and Foreign Minister Medelci. He ends the day by traveling to Tunis, where he will meet tomorrow, April 15, with senior Tunisian officials.

Tomorrow, again, April 15, after his meetings in Tunis, Senator Mitchell will travel to Israel for a day of meetings with the new Israeli Government on Thursday, April 16, and to Ramallah for a day of meetings with Palestinian leaders on Friday, April 17. He will depart Ramallah on April 17, traveling to Egypt to consult with leaders there. Special Envoy Mitchell is traveling with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Hale, the Executive Secretary of the National Security Council Mara Rudman, plus several other staff.  ---  FROM US STATE DEPT. ---

Passover Seder at the White House

[nothing to do with Foreign Policy but an interesting 'first'] US President Obama hosted a Passover Seder dinner in the Old Family Dining Room of the White House on Thursday April 9, 2009.  This Jewish holiday event included family friends and White House employees and their families. Photo from the White House by Pete Souza

SYRIA talks TALKS with ISRAEL but only for Golan

Syrian Foreign Minster, Walid Muallem is reported to have said that Syria would be open to resuming peace talks with Israel, but only with "A full agreement from Israel to a commitment to a withdrawal from the Golan Heights".

IRAN's Ahmadinejad: 'Israel...a nonentity'

Iran's PRESS TV, reports April 8th that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has downplayed any Israeli comments about its nuclear program saying "The Iranian nation considers Israel as just a nonentity and the regime is too weak to threaten us...Today nobody dares to threaten the Iranian nation."

US Special Envoy to head back to Middle East...work on 2-state solution

Special Envoy for Middle East Peace George Mitchell Travel
Special Envoy Mitchell will travel to the Middle East beginning April 13 to advance the goal of the two-state solution and comprehensive peace in the region. He is scheduled to meet with key officials in Israel and the Palestinian territories, Egypt, the Gulf, and North Africa. Special Envoy Mitchell's aim for this trip is to discuss next steps in moving the parties toward a lasting peace that will benefit all the people of the region.

Statement from US State Dept. April 6, 2009

US on Arab League's 'Israel ultmatum'

I haven’t seen that or know that it’s characterized as an ultimatum. The Arab League, as well as other international organizations, should be helping to try and resolve the problems between Israel and the Palestinians. We -- at the moment, are encouraging the Egyptians to continue with their work. The situation in Gaza, as I understand it, has improved some with the shipments of relief supplies going in. More needs to be done on that front. More needs to be done on working to stop smuggling that is going into Gaza. And so setting timetables doesn’t seem to be a way forward at the moment. But as I said, I haven’t seen these particular comments.

--US State Dept. Spokesman Gordon Duguid--

New Israeli Government -- US expectations -- 'let's wait and see'

US State Dept. ...we’ll wait till next week and we’ll see what the Government of Israel’s – the new Government of Israel’s policies will be. As you know, the United States continues to support a two-state solution. We have a long history of working with Israeli governments of all stripes. We expect that we will continue our efforts to try and bring a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian difficulties and problems, and we will continue to work for a two-state solution.
Press Question Is there concern, though, that given the activities of the expected parties in this incoming government, the propagation of the war in Gaza, the anti-Palestinian rhetoric that has been put forth by Avigdor Lieberman and his supporters, is there concern that this might, as the President alluded last night, make the job perhaps more difficult?
US State Dept: I think the President’s words stands for – stand for themselves. He said that this has been a difficult process up to this point. It has not been an easy process; otherwise, we would perhaps be farther along than we are. What you have seen is a consistent American effort to try and help resolve the problems, and that resolve remains.

--- From Gordon Duguid, Acting Deputy Department Spokesman,  Daily Press Briefing, March 25, 2009