(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) French President Francois Hollande met here Wednesday evening with King Abdullah II, of Jordan, to discuss the regional situation, including the ongoing conflict in Syria and the refugee situation in Jordan, as well as the mounting problem of extremist groups like the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
The two leaders also discussed the need to resume the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in addition to the bilateral relations from multiple angles.
King Abdallah's visit to France comes close on the heels of Monday's "Conference on Peace and Security in Iraq," which brought together 24 foreign ministers - including the Jordanian - and several organisations to discuss how to counter the ISIL radicals who are rampaging through eastern Syria and northern Iraq.
The Paris Conference agreed a cohesive strategy to fight "Daash" through political support for Iraq, as well as humanitarian aid and financial controls to prevent funds reaching the radical movement.
Military steps are also under discussion between the participants, such as more air strikes and supplying weapons to Iraq and other opponents of Islamic State like the Kurdish Pesmerga.
In a joint statement after their meeting Wednesday, Hollande and the Jordanian Sovereign reiterated their support for Iraq in its fight against the ISIL and for "the international mobilisation against terrorist organisations which threaten regional and world security." In supporting the government in Baghdad, they expressed hope that the new authorities "will respond to the expectations of all components of all the Iraqi people and will fully involve them in the political process." The two leaders also noted that the Paris Conference on Iraq last September 15 had received "the commitment of all participants" and a commitment to "use all necessary means, including military assistance" to counter the ISIL extremists.
Hollande and King Abdallah also discussed the floundering Middle East peace process and said that a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians was "a priority." They once again reiterated the necessity to "restart the negotiations with a view to creating an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian State within the pre-June, 1967, borders living in peace and security with Israel." This should be achieved through a global settlement that respects UN resolutions, the principles of Madrid and the Arab Peace Initiative, the final statement said.
On Syria, the two leaders said they were "deeply alarmed" by the escalation of violence and the ongoing suffering of the Syrian people.
They "firmly condemned violations of human rights and humanitarian law," crimes they said were being committed both by the Syrian regime and extremists groups seeking to overthrow that regime.
They insisted on "the urgency of a political transition" in Syria and they expressed support for UN Special Representative Stefan de Mistura.
On bilateral issues, the two leaders signed six agreements to boost cooperation, mostly for water, ecology and energy, and explored ways to enhance economic exchanges.
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