Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak met with King ‘Abdallah of Jordan on Sunday, and the two discussed the anticipated Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and the upcoming elections in Iraq.
The meeting took place in ‘Aqaba, Jordan, following Mubarak’s return from his European tour. The two leaders called on the international community, the European Union, and the Quartet, to help the Israeli and Palestinian sides to return to the negotiating table and find a just and complete solution to the conflict. The solution, said the two, must be based on President Bush’s Road Map for peace in the Middle East, and lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Mubarak and ‘Abdallah also asserted that the Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip must be a part of the Road Map.
As for Iraq, ‘Abdallah said the upcoming elections would have to include all the Iraqi regions. The king added that the election’s results would have to represent all parts of the Iraqi people.
The king also welcomed the international conference to be held soon in Sharm A-Sheikh, Egypt, where the Iraqi elections will be discussed. He said it is very important that all parties with an interest and influence in the matter should participate.