RAMALLAH, December 6, 2012 (WAFA) – King Abdullah II of Jordan, who flew in a helicopter to Ramallah on Thursday, became the first head of state to visit Palestine after it became a non-member state at the United Nations.

This was recognized by Jordan’s Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, who told a joint press conference with his Palestinian counterpart Riyad Malki, that the King wanted to be the first to visit the State of Palestine.

“King Abdullah is always eager to meet President Abbas in Amman, and also eager to visit the Palestinian territories,” he said, adding that the king came to Ramallah because he wanted to be “the first one to congratulate President Abbas and the Palestinian people for their strategic decision at the United Nations.”

He described the UN decision as “historic” and expressed hope that Palestine would one day become a full member of the UN and “a viable Palestinian state would be established with Jerusalem as its capital.”

He said, describing the talks between Abbas and Abdullah as constructive, that the two sides want to hold further consultations and coordination over the next steps.

Judeh strongly criticized Israeli settlement activities in the Palestinian Territory, specifying a decision to build more than 3000 units in a new settlement near Jerusalem referred to as E1 project.

He said while settlements are in general not acceptable, the E1 project is going to divide the Palestinian areas in half and kill any chances for establishing a contiguous and viable Palestinian state.

Foreign Minister Riyad Malki welcomed King Abdullah’s visit saying it reflects the strong relationship between the two countries.

He said the visit has a special meaning since it is the first for a head of state to Palestine after it became a non-member state observer at the UN and it shows the “special and distinguished relationship between Palestine and Jordan.”

He said it also comes to continue consultations between them even thought there is full agreement on all issues.

The talks, said Malki, concentrated on how to coordinate the next step in order to make more achievements.

He said King Abdullah wants to know how Jordan can help the Palestinians overcome all their problems in order to become a full member of the UN and a state as it should be.

He said the municipality of Ramallah has decided to name a square in the city after King Abdullah in appreciation for his support.

M.S./F.R.