King meets Qatari Crown Prince, Hamas politburo chief
http://www.petra.gov.jo/Public_News/Nws_NewsDetails.aspx?lang=2&site_id=1&NewsID=57462&CatID=13

Amman, Jan 29 (Petra) -- His Majesty King Abdullah II on Sunday welcomed
Qatar's Crown Prince Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani who paid a brief visit
to Jordan accompanied by Hamas Politburo head Khaled Meshaal.

The King said during the meeting held at the Royal Palace in Hommar that
Jordan is keen on cementing ties with the Gulf Arab state in various fields
in order to achieve the common interests of the two countries.

Commenting on the current turmoil in Arab countries, King Abdullah said
Jordan and Qatar would continue coordination to promote peace and stability
in the region and serve pan-Arab issues and interests.

The Hamas leader joined the talks in which His Majesty reiterated Jordan's
firm support of the Palestinian people's aspirations to an independent state
on 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He said Palestinian-Israeli peace talks should be based on the two-state
solution and U.N. resolutions, reaffirming that Palestinian statehood is a
higher Jordanian interest.

The King said negotiations, with support by the world community, are the
sole means to regain Palestinian rights, calling for Palestinian unity and
reconciliation, which would strengthen the Palestinian position, and
reiterating Jordan's continued aid to ease the plight of Palestinians in the
West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The meeting, held over a working lunch, was attended by His Royal Highness
Prince Ali Bin al Hussein, the King's advisers and a number of Qatari
officials as well as deputy Mousa Abou Marzouk and four other members of the
Palestinian group.

Meshaal told reporters after the meeting that the visit, his first in 12
years, is a new opening, stressing his group's respect of Jordan's security,
stability and interests and its keenness to forge distinguished relations
with the Kingdom. He voiced the hope that the visit "will be followed by
chapters of goodwill and strong ties to serve the Jordanian and Palestinian
interest." He said that Hamas totally rejects any attempt to turn Jordan
into an alternative homeland to Palestinians and insists on the full
restoration of Palestinian rights "so that Palestine will be Palestine and
Jordan will be Jordan." Meshaal expressed Hamas's gratitude to His Majesty
for Jordan's support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and its custody and
renovation of holy sites in Jerusalem.

//Petra//SS
29/1/2012 - 06:23:25 PM