JERUSALEM: ISRAELI FM SILVAN SHALOM MEETS RETURNING JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL

Record ID: 400273

  • Title: JERUSALEM: ISRAELI FM SILVAN SHALOM MEETS RETURNING JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL
  • Date: 21st February 2005
  • Summary: (W3)JERUSALEM (FEBRUARY 21, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. SLV OF ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER SILVAN SHALOM MEETING JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR DR. MA'ARUF AL-BAKHIT 0.03 2. SV AL-BAKHIT SEATED/SHALOM AND AL-BAKHIT SHAKING HANDS (2 SHOTS) 0.19 3. SV (English) ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER SILVAN SHALOM GREETING JORDANIAN AMBASSADOR SAYING: "With Jordan we've had spec
  • Embargoed: 8th March 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JERUSALEM
  • City:
  • Country: Israel
  • Reuters ID: LVAEQQRXSU1ZFWNK69SZ2C226QWE
  • Story Text: In a sign of a new era in the Middle East peace
    process, Israeli FM Shalom meets returning Jordanian ambassador to Israel.



    Jordanian Ambassador to Israel Dr. Ma'aruf
    al-Bakhit met Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom on
    Monday (February 21, 2005), only a day after he was sent to
    Israel to present his credentials, in further show of
    support of the new chapter in the Palestinian-Israeli
    relations.

    Al-Bakhit, as Jordan's ambassador to Israel, will return
    to Tel Aviv next Sunday (February 27), more than four years
    after the country withdrew its envoy following the start of
    the Palestinian uprising.

    After shaking hands with al-Bakhit, Shalom said the two
    countries had had special relations for a long time.

    "Even when we didn't have diplomatic relations, we still
    had very good contacts, and since we signed our peace
    treaty with Jordan in 1994 we are working all the time to
    strengthen our relations," said Shalom.

    "We had some difficulties in the last few years, and I
    am very happy to welcome you here and I want to wish you
    all the best. And I'm sure you and all your staff in the
    embassy will do everything to make progress and strengthen
    our bilateral relations."
    Said Bakhit: "Definitely we'll try. Things look good,
    the atmosphere is positive, and I am optimistic. I hope we
    can take our bilateral relations further."
    He added: "On the other level, Jordan is ready and
    committed to bring the peace process to its final end,
    which is establishing a Palestinian state and establishing
    a comprehensive peace in the region."
    Israeli ministers are praising the step as a very
    positive and important one that enhances the relationship between
    Israel and its neighbours, commending the Jordanian
    kingdom as a partner for peace.

    Jordan became the second Arab country to sign a peace
    treaty with Israel in 1994, after Egypt in 1979. But both
    countries downgraded relations with Israel when the
    Palestinians began their revolt in 2000.

    They agreed to return their envoys at the Feb 8. summit
    in Egypt, where Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and
    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced a ceasefire.


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