|
AMMAN, Aug. 21-- Jordan and Turkey on Monday rejected any attempts to alter the status quo in Al-Aqsa Mosque, the state-run Petra news agency reported. Jordanian King Abdullah II received and talked with visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Amman, in which they discussed several regional issues including the Palestinian issue and the situation in the region. In a joint statement, the two leaders stressed that resolving the Palestinian issue is key to the Middle East, calling for serious and effective peace talks leading to the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on the two-state solution. They said any peace talks should be in line with the 2002 Arab peace initiative and should be in line with a specific time frame, stating that any future Palestinian state should be at the borders of 1967 with east Jerusalem as its capital. They also warned against any attempts by Israel to change the status quo in Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, slamming all Israeli unilateral measures in this regard. The Turkish president also voiced appreciation for Jordan's efforts in protecting the holy sites in Jerusalem, stressing that Jordan and Turkey will continue to work hand in hand to prevent the Israeli violations in Al-Aqsa Mosque. He also called for increased cooperation at the level of the Islamic countries to face common challenges, especially in light of pressing conditions the Muslim nations are facing. | 
