Jordan, France ink several cooperation agreements

Jordan and France on Sunday signed several agreements to foster ties between the two countries in a variety of fields, the state-run Petra news agency, reported.
   In the presence of visiting French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and Jordan's Prime Minister Samir Rifai, officials from the two countries signed an agreement to create an excellent center for energy and mega projects in Jordan, in addition to another deal to explore and utilize uranium in the Arab kingdom, Xinhua reported.
   Jordan is abundant in uranium reserves with an estimate of some 140,000 tons. It is also home to other nuclear materials such as zirconium and the country is expected to produce annually 2,000 tons of yellowcake and about 300 tons of phosphate as of 2013.
   The two countries also signed agreements to cooperate in the field of protecting biodiversity, civil defense as well as a deal to enhance Jordan's commercial capabilities, according to the agency.
   Later in the day, King Abdullah II of Jordan held talks with the French prime minister that focused on means to bolster bilateral ties in different fields.
   Discussions between the Jordanian leader and Fillon also covered developments in the Middle East and efforts to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on the two-state solution.
   In this regard, Abdullah II underlined the need for intensified international efforts to restart serious and effective peace talks to end the conflict based on the two-state solution, which envisages the creation of an independent Palestinian state that lives side by side with Israel.
   Petra reported that Jordanian prime minister held talks with his French counterpart in Amman on means to enhance ties in different fields. They also looked into regional and international developments and issues of mutual concern.
   In a press conference following the meeting with Rifai, the French prime minister said it is important to resume Palestinian- Israeli peace talks at this stage as "wasting time is not in the interest of any of the parties involved."
   Fillon added that peace can only be realized with the creation of an independent and viable Palestinian state on the basis of the Arab Peace Initiative.
   The peace overture offers Israel normal ties with the Arab states in return for withdrawal from territories it occupied in 1967.