Interview with His Majesty King Abdullah II

BBC: King Abdullah, we have lost track at the number of times that there have been summits on the edge of the Red Sea, commitments to peace and they have been broken, why should this time be any different?

King Abdullah: Well, because I truly believe that we are running out of options. I mean this is an opportunity. We have a new leadership of the Palestinians, we have a commitment of Israel to deal with the Palestinians as partners for peace, in total honesty, if I go back to President Bush statements several years ago when he announced a viable, independent Palestinian state. Our concern is the viable issue, geographic viability. If we do not solve the problem over the next year or two then there may not be enough of geographic Palestinian lands to create a two-state solution. So this is a crucial time for us to reengage with the roadmap and to get the Israelis and Palestinians back together because if we do not find a solution in 2005-2006 we may not have a viable state to talk about.

BBC: But with all due respect, when these leaders met at the Jordanian Red Sea Resort of Aqaba, a year and half ago, they said much the same. Why is now any different aside from the election of Mahmoud Abbas as the new Palestinian leader?

King Abdullah: Well, again where have we gotten ourselves since two years ago. I mean there has been more violence, more frustration, more destruction that both Israelis and Palestinians have had to pay the price for. And so it is imperative that we put our differences aside and move forward, again I .. Mahmoud Abbas had a difficult tenure two years ago. He did not get the support that he should have I believe from the international community and to an extent from the Israeli government that could have given a lot to the Palestinian people to bring some sort of authority to their government. I think people understand the stakes better now and as a result from the discussions that we have had with the Israelis and with the Palestinians as well as the statements that were articulated by both the Israeli and the Palestinian leadership, it seems to be very serious and they understand what's at stake.

BBC: But you sense that they came here with different agendas. The Israelis very much emphasised the need to improve security, the Palestinians want to move on to political discussion, which they emphasised, if there isn't, they won't be able to improve security.

King Abdullah: Well, there has always been different levels of accents on negotiations whenever the Israelis and the Palestinians have met. The Israelis hold fast to the issue of security, which I think all of us understand, but I hope what today accomplished was to go beyond security is more important to really articulate the light at the end of the tunnel. And again on discussions from what we have heard from both sides, I think that Sharm El-Sheikh today was a bit more than just security. I think that this is a very positive step towards the London conference 1st of March and we just have to keep the momentum.

BBC: What is different about Ariel Sharon?

King Abdullah: I think there is maybe a confidence that he has a partner for peace. I think that Abu Mazen is a man that will take the courageous steps. He has a very difficult challenge ahead of him, but from what I have known of the man he is committed, what you see is what you get. And I think both of them are the type of people, as they were discussing earlier on, are tough negotiators but I think once they have agreed on something that they are as good as their word.

BBC: Will security take precedence, is this really not about a peace making summit, this is a security summit?

King Abdullah: I would like to think this is a bit more, obviously the Israelis push their security concerns. They think as we have all articulated in the past. I think its a sincerity. I think that President Abbas is going to do his utmost to deal with security. Obviously it is not an on-off switch because he has to built the institutions of government, he has to build a new security force, he has to change the way the security apparatuses work inside of his government institutions. And so it is not something that can be done overnight. I think that we, as the international community, have emphasised this enough to the Israelis that this is not an on-off switch, understanding that security is paramount for the Israelis.

BBC: Can there be progress without significant American pressure to get the two sides on board?

King Abdullah: Honestly, I think you're talking about significant American pressure and a coordinated role for the Quartet. This is a team effort, and without a team effort, from past years of experience, two sides left to their own we've seen that progress has not been very positive.

BBC: And you see this as a new stage in American engagement?

King Abdullah: I do hope so. Obviously there was no American presence here, I think it was left to the region to get our act together. The Israelis and Palestinians under the umbrella of President Mubarak came together today to start the process. As I said, there is a series of engagements over the next couple of months, we have the London Conference, as I said. I think an active role by the secretary of state of the United States in this progress. The ducks have been lined up in a row, and I'm just hoping that today is a start of a process that will finally get us moving back onto the roadmap.

BBC: But you believe the United States will take a different approach, an approach that would be regarded in the region as more balanced?

King Abdullah: I believe so. From my discussions with the President and with his support that he gave to me for the Palestinians in December. I think the atmosphere is very positive. I think the President understands that there is a time issue. I think he understands the geographical viability problem, and I think he will be willing to give his full support to the process.

BBC: As you know, America's position in the region is determined by large part today what its doing in Iraq now, do you believe, as some Iraqis do, that the Americans should set a date for withdrawing its troops?

King Abdullah: I think the Americans believe also that they should set a date and I think a date is healthy, because it shows the light at the end of the tunnel for even those Iraqis that are taking extremist positions. There is a future for Iraq there is a phase time-line. So I think setting a date is a positive thing and one that will be positively received not only inside of Iraq but inside the region.

BBC: Are you still worried about civil war, you've all been concerned between relations between majority Shiites and the Sunnis, after this election does that confirm your fears?

King Abdullah: Again it's more complicated than that. I mean there are so many different factions and what we want, as I said on the political issue is we want a robust future Iraq that is inclusive of all societies. We went through an election that I think was fairly successful. There was a high voter turnout throughout Iraq. There was less of a successful turnout by the Sunnis. We hope that again, as I said, that this new government will be inclusive of all elements of Iraqi society. So again, let us be cautiously optimistic. You mentioned civil war, well today, yes there is more of a nervousness in the Middle East that there is that possibility than it were two years ago. But at the same time, we do hope that there is also a maturing inside of the Iraqi mentality. I think they realise what is at stake and we hope that that maturity will allow them to put their differences aside and step towards the future.

BBC: King Abdullah, Thank you very much.