Last update - 00:00 29/07/2007
PA, Jordan Premiers discuss latest Mideast peace measures
By DPA
Jordanian Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit and Palestinian Premier Salam Fayad on Sunday discussed the latest measures to revive peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
Bakhit and Fayad "reviewed various regional and international efforts aimed at reviving the peace process", particularly the outcome of last Wednesday's visit to Israel by Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah Khatib and his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Aboul Gheit, an official statement said.
Speaking to reporters later Sunday, Fayad stressed the importance of last week's visit to Israel by Khatib and Aboul Gheit. The visit was aimed at promoting the Arab peace initiative, a land-for-peace plan adopted by the Arab summit in Riyadh in late March.
"However," Fayad said "The promotion of the Arab peace plan should not stop here, but it should continue because the blueprint represents a good basis for making peace, ending the [Israeli] occupation and setting up an independent Palestinian state."
Fayad also briefed Bakhit on the outcome of recent meetings between Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahoud Abbas and with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the Quartet's envoy to the Middle East, Tony Blair, the statement said.
"The two sides discussed means of reactivating trade between Jordan and the Palestinian Authority and underlined the importance of encouraging businessmen from the two sides to discuss opportunities for joint investments," the statement said.