DATE= 5-13-02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=U-S / JORDAN / MIDEAST (S)

NUMBER=2-289749

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE= STATE DEPARTMENT

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Jordan's King Abdullah, wrapping up a week-long U-S visit, has appealed for U-S leadership in a new Middle East peace process that articulates, in advance, the twin goals of Palestinian statehood and security for Israel. V-O-A's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

TEXT: The Jordanian monarch says the current situation is not a matter of peace-making going off the tracks, but a train wreck with enormous destruction. And he says it will require U-S leadership to pull the region back from the brink. In a policy address sponsored by the Washington's Brookings institution, King Abdullah called for rapidly-paced new negotiations that would begin with a statement of their final objectives. He said without the promise of statehood, Palestinians cannot be expected to step forward and renew dialogue with Israel:

///KING ABDULLAH ACTUALITY///

If we don't articulate a hope, how do you expect a Palestinian or an Arab to stick his neck out and try and curb terrorism? Because there's such a level of frustration -- I have to be honest about the feeling on the ground -- that nobody is willing take the risk for peace because peace has not been identified clearly.

///END ACT///

King Abdullah said the same applies to the Israelis, who he said would not try to accommodate the Palestinians without the prospect of their aspirations for security and Arab acceptance being met as well. (Signed)

NEB/DAG/KBK