upon arrival in Eilat

Your Excellency Mr. Prime Minister,
Mrs. Barak,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of Rania and myself and my delegation, allow me to express our gratitude for your warm reception. I am especially appreciative of this timely opportunity to exchange views with you and your ministers on how we can enhance cooperation between Jordan and Israel five and a half years after the conclusion of the treaty of peace.

The potential for cooperation is great, and we have to explore all possible ways to overcome any and all obstacles that prevent such fruitful cooperation. I am confident that you, Mr. Prime Minister, share my eagerness to achieve progress on this front.

Mr. Prime Minister, I know that you are committed to a comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East. The Palestinian issue is a central one in the Arab-Israeli conflict, and I am very hopeful that this year will witness a breakthrough that will give hope to the Palestinians, the justice they seek, and to the Israeli people, the security that they desire. I hope that this beautiful city will prove to be historical in terms of achieving the settlement that we all expect.

I am also hopeful that the Syrian and Lebanese tracks will be resumed in the near future, in order to capitalize on this historic opportunity of achieving reconciliation and coexistence. Land for peace has been accepted by all parties since 1991 and must continue to guide us whatever obstacles in the process emerge.

Mr. Prime Minister, Jordan will support all peace-making efforts, and we shall follow in the footsteps of His late Majesty King Hussein, who spared no effort to conclude a peace that will guarantee stability and prosperity for all.

Again, please accept my sincere gratitude for your warm reception, and I look forward to a fruitful day of peacemaking and peace-building in this beautiful neighboring city of Eilat.

Thank you very much.