Abbas invited to Arab summit

AMMAN —  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday in Ramallah received Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, who handed him an invitation from His Majesty King Abdullah to attend the Arab summit in March.

Judeh conveyed King Abdullah's greetings to Abbas and his best wishes for the Palestinian people, stressing the "deep-rooted" relations between the two countries and peoples, and the continuous support of Jordan for Palestinians to realise their legitimate rights and establish their independent state, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The minister highlighted the importance of Abbas' participation in the summit, where the Palestinian issue will top the meeting's agenda.

In this regard, he stressed that Jordan deems the Palestinian issue the core regional conflict and that establishing a Palestinian state is a Jordanian higher interest, as it is a Palestinian national interest. 

For his part, Abbas expressed his appreciation for King Abdullah’s efforts and stances in supporting Palestinians to acquire their legitimate rights, in light of the “high esteem” His Majesty is held in regionally and internationally.

He also praised Jordan’s efforts, under the leadership of the Monarch, to support the Palestinian issue in international organisations.

His Majesty King Abdullah on October 24, issued directives to host the summit after Yemen apologised for not being able to host it. 

At the time, Judeh informed Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit of the decision, after the latter had conveyed the league’s request to His Majesty, Prime Minister Hani Mulki and the Cabinet.

Previously, Aboul Gheit had sent Judeh a letter explaining that Yemen, which is in the midst of a civil war, could not host the summit.

Judeh had delivered such invitations to Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, Kuwaiti Emir Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah and UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of State for Investment Affairs Jawad Anani has delivered similar invitations from King Abdullah to Comorian President Azali Assoumani and Iraqi President Fuad Masum.