Jordan's king meets Assad in reconciliation bid

AMMAN [MENL] -- Jordan's King Abdullah held talks with Syrian President Hafez Assad in Damascus on Wednesday in efforts to reconcile between the two Arab neighbors.

Jordanian officials said a key issue of discussion was how the two countries will share water resources.

Assad welcomed Abdullah at the airport and the Jordanian king was greeted by a 21-gun salute. "We welcome King Abdullah and appreciate his efforts to improve the Arab climate," the Syrian Baath Party daily said.

Abdullah will discuss with Assad bilateral and regional issues including water resources, release of prisoners and the Middle East peace process during his visit to Syria, the first since his late father Hussein traveled to Damascus in the mid-1980s.

Relations between Jordan and Syria have been tense since the establishment of both countries in the 1940s. Jordan has accused Syria of seeking to control the Hashemite kingdom. Syria has accused Jordan of defying the Arab consensus by forming relations with Israel.

In 1994, Jordan aroused Syrian wrath by signing a peace treaty with Israel. Jordan and Israel are regarded as having warm relations.

Jordanian officials said a key issue will be the proposal to construct the Al Wahdeh dam along the Yarmouk river. Jordan is seeking new water sources amid the current drought in the region.

Officials said Abdullah also wants to revive the moribund Jordan-Syrian bilateral committee meant to develop relations and expand trade.

Abdullah and Assad met after Hussein's funeral in February and soon both countries were declaring that a new chapter had begun in their relations.