Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
02AMMAN3427
2002-06-25 12:14:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

GOJ'S OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT BUSH'S SPEECH

Tags:  PREL KPAL US JO 
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UNCLAS AMMAN 003427 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAL US JO
SUBJECT: GOJ'S OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT BUSH'S SPEECH


UNCLAS AMMAN 003427

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAL US JO
SUBJECT: GOJ'S OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO PRESIDENT BUSH'S SPEECH



1. The Jordanian Foreign Ministry released on June 25
Jordan's official response to President Bush's June 24 speech
on the Middle East. The full text follows:

Begin text of statement.

We welcome President Bush's speech and the commitment to US
engagement. It is extremely important that the United States
now take the initiative in finally bringing this conflict to
a close.

President Bush's speech is in line with our position that an
end game and a timeline should be defined so that the
political process can be re-launched on solid grounds.

The call for a Palestinian state as the outcome of the
Palestinian right to freedom is a needed and welcomed
development. The President made it clear that the ISRAELi
occupation that began in 1967 has to end. We support the
establishment of a Palestinian state on the basis of the 1967
borders.

President Bush has set a timeline of three years to achieve
this outcome. We stand ready to work with the United States
and all parties to expedite this target date so that the
ISRAELi occupation can end sooner than this.

We also note the Palestinian efforts towards reform, and
their call to hold elections at all levels soon. We stand
ready to help in these efforts, which must come from within
Palestinian society. We firmly believe Palestinians alone
are the ones to lead these reform efforts.

We see this as the beginning of the end of the conflict
between Arabs and ISRAELis. We are ready to work towards a
comprehensive settlement that will lead to a lasting peace
and normal relations between Arabs and ISRAELis.

President Bush's statement is possible because of the
diplomatic opening created by the Arab initiative -- to which
we remain deeply committed. We must seek a comprehensive
settlement to the Arab-ISRAELi conflict. All concerned
parties, including Syria and Lebanon, must be part of this
process if a lasting peace is to be achieved.

We urge ISRAEL to live up to this moment in history. Delay
is a recipe for disaster. The Arabs, the US and the
international community are now willing to commit to make
sure this vision succeeds. We invite the ISRAELi people and
the ISRAELi government to join us on the road to permanent
peace.

End text of statement.
Gnehm