The French president and Abdullah II also reaffirmed “their commitment to work together, and with other relevant partners, to reopen a political horizon for peace between Israelis and Palestinians,” the Elysee Palace said.

 

French President Emmanuel Macron and King Abdullah II of Jordan called on Wednesday  for convening a new conference on Middle East issues to be held as soon as possible, bringing together Iran and Saudi Arabia, like the one in Badgad in August 2021.

During a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, the two leaders “discussed regional issues, including the Iranian nuclear issue, the fight against terrorism and the situation in Iraq,” according to the French presidency.

“In the current regional context, the two heads of state agreed on the need to hold, as soon as possible, a new conference in the format of the Baghdad Conference of August 2021,” it added.

The summit was attended by the Emir of Qatar, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, King Abdullah II of Jordan and the Foreign Ministers of both Iran and Saudi Arabia, the two rival powers in the region.

The French president and Abdullah II also reaffirmed “their commitment to work together, and with other relevant partners, to reopen a political horizon for peace between Israelis and Palestinians,” the Elysee said.

Emmanuel Macron also reiterated France’s “support for Jordan and other Middle Eastern countries in the face of the food crisis caused by the conflict” in Ukraine.

The meeting marks  a “new stage in the strategic partnership” between the two countries and will allow “to continue the joint work in the face of security and economic challenges,” said the French Presidency. The two leaders have the common goal of “promoting stability and dialogue,” it also noted.

France stations fighter jets in Jordan that have been engaged since 2014 in the fight against jihadist groups in Iraq and Syria. President Macron is also advocating for the involvement of regional countries, including Jordan, in broader discussions on security issues related to Iran.

The nuclear negotiations with Iran are “at an impasse” and no breakthrough is expected in the short term, EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell told Agence France Presse.

Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian issue, King Abdullah reportedly emphasized the importance of achieving a just and comprehensive peace based on a two-state solution that establishes an independent Palestinian state based on June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The king praised France and the EU for their support of the two-state solution and reaffirmed the importance of including Palestinians in regional economic projects.