Jordan’s King talks arms and peace in Moscow

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict and arms trade dominated a meeting between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and King Abdullah II of Jordan at the Kremlin on Thursday.

During the King’s visit to Moscow, Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Jauda met his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, to sign bilateral agreements on scientific and cultural co-operation for 2010-2012.

This was the 10th visit of the King to Russia during his 11 years on the throne, and his third meeting with Dmitry Medvedev.

The same day, after returning to Amman, King Abdullah II held a meeting with US Vice President Joe Biden, who came to Jordan after fruitless talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, who refused to return to the negotiating table.

The monarch of Jordan underlined that provocative Israeli steps, such as building new houses in East Jerusalem, “undermine all peace efforts.”

“Israel’s actions push the Middle East to a new round of the conflict,” said Abdullah II. He added that decisive steps by American President Barack Obama could help the peace process. Otherwise “if the opportunity of establishing a Palestinian state is lost, the Middle East will face a new wave of violence.”