His Majesty King Abdullah and Egyptian President Mohammad Hosni Mubarak on Saturday held talks at the southern port city of Aqaba where both leaders stressed the importance of intensifying world efforts to revive the peace process and deliver aid to the Palestinians, who are suffering an economic crisis.

The King discussed with Mubarak the situation in Iraq as well as means to enhance relations between Jordan and Egypt.

In a joint press conference with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abul Gheit, meanwhile, Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah Khatib told reporters that Jordan and Egypt will rally international support for resuming the peace process and preempt Israeli unilateral moves.

The two ministers said Amman and Cairo would lobby for a meeting of the Middle East Quartet in New York on May 9.

The Quartet comprises the UN, the EU, the US and Russia. Jordan and Egypt are to attend as regional partners from the Middle East.

"We believe the coming meeting of the Quartet to be very important and timely and coming after a long suspension of the peace process which faces a difficult period," Khatib said.

"There ought to be international efforts to push forward the peace process away from unilateral steps and a return to the negotiating table."

Both sides also called for resuming aid to the Palestinians, who, they said, should preserve their national unity.

The Jordan Times