Jordan's King Abdullah II conferred Thursday with Speaker of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Pottering and praised the "important" role being played by the European Union for the establishment of peace in the Middle East, according to dpa. King Abdullah praised in particular the European Union's support of the Arab peace initiative readopted by Arab leaders at a Riyadh summit in March, a statement of the Jordanian Royal Court added. The plan envisages extending recognition to Israel by all Arab states after the Jewish state withdraws from all Arab territory occupied in the 1967 war, including East Jerusalem, and finding an "acceptable" solution to the Palestinian refugee problem. King Abdullah also urged the resumption of EU aid to the Palestinians "with a view to alleviating their sufferings and improving their living conditions," the statement said. "The monarch stressed the depth of partnership between Jordan and the EU as well as keenness to boost bilateral cooperation in various spheres," it added. Pottering extended an invitation to King Abdullah to deliver a speech before the European Parliament at Strasbourg, and praised efforts being exerted by the monarch towards resuming peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis. The European Union chief visited Jordan as part of a regional tour that also took him to Israel and the Palestinian territories.
