Rice tells Jordan king US committed

by AFP

AMMAN (AFP) — US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Jordan's King Abdullah II on Monday that Washington is committed to achieving Israeli-Palestinian peace, the royal palace said in a statement.

"The United States is also committed to enhancing security and stability in the Middle East," the statement quoted Rice as telling the king in a telephone call.

Rice and the Jordanian monarch discussed efforts to hold an upcoming Washington-sponsored Middle East peace conference in the United States, it said.

"Suitable atmospheres should be created to make the conference a success, leading to the resumption of peace talks and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state," the king said, according to the statement.

Key US ally Jordan, which signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994, has repeatedly called for a clear agenda for the meeting, expected to take place in the Maryland port of Annapolis by the end of the year.

Rice last week met Palestinian and Israeli leaders on her eighth visit to the region this year to advance efforts for reviving full peace negotiations through the international meeting.