This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/15/us/politics/syria-is-expected-to-be-main-topic-as-obama-meets-with-king-of-jordan.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Syria Is Expected to Be Main Topic as Obama Meets With King of Jordan Syria Is Expected to Be Main Topic as Obama Meets With King of Jordan
(35 minutes later)
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — President Obama arrived at this desert resort town on Friday night for a dinner meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan at which they were expected to discuss the civil war in Syria, which has inundated Jordan with more than 600,000 refugees. RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — President Obama announced during a meeting here Friday night with King Abdullah II of Jordan that he would seek to renew a five-year aide package to help Jordan bear the burden of the more than 600,000 Syrian refugees who have fled the civil war there.
Mr. Obama also announced that the United States would renew a five-year program of aid to Jordan and promised $1 billion in loan guarantees. Mr. Obama, amid broader discussions with Abdullah about the stalemate in Syria, also announced that the United States would guarantee $1 billion in loans to help keep Jordan’s wavering economy afloat. 
The president briefly outlined that aid package as he spoke to reporters at Sunnylands, the Southern California estate where was meeting the king for what the White House called a working dinner.
The president’s meeting with the Jordanian king is part of an intensive diplomatic outreach to the Middle East over the next month, as the United States conducts risky negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, gropes for a political solution to the fighting in Syria, and tries to nudge the Israelis and the Palestinians toward a peace agreement.The president’s meeting with the Jordanian king is part of an intensive diplomatic outreach to the Middle East over the next month, as the United States conducts risky negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, gropes for a political solution to the fighting in Syria, and tries to nudge the Israelis and the Palestinians toward a peace agreement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel will make a trip the White House on March 3, while Mr. Obama is scheduled to meet with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and, possibly, other Persian Gulf leaders in a visit there.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel will make a trip the White House on March 3, while Mr. Obama is scheduled to meet with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and, possibly, other Persian Gulf leaders in a visit there.
The Middle East peace process is on the agenda of the president’s meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan, administration officials said. The dominant issue is likely to be Syria, whose civil war has placed heavy burdens on neighboring Jordan. The Middle East peace process was expected to be on the agenda of the president’s meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan, administration officials said, but the dominant issue was likely to be Syria, whose civil war has placed heavy burdens on neighboring Jordan.
The meeting is being held at Sunnylands, a 200-acre estate built by Walter H. Annenberg, the publisher, philanthropist and ambassador who died in 2002. Syrians are only the latest group to flee to the relative stability provided by Jordan, which has also taken in large numbers of people fleeing fighting in Iraqi and Sudan in recent years. The United States aid package, which expires in September, has been valued at $660 million a year.  
It is the second time that Mr. Obama has used the estate as the setting for a summit meeting. Last year, he hosted President Xi Jinping of China at Sunnylands for a two-day meeting that was noted for its unusual informality and was interpreted as a milestone in their nations’ often tense and generally stilted four-decade diplomatic history. Jordan’s economic problems have been made worse by militants’ attacks on natural gas pipelines from Egypt, which has been in upheaval since the Arab Spring uprising in 2011.
It is not the first time that Mr. Obama has used Sunnylands — a 200-acre estate built by Walter H. Annenberg, the publisher, philanthropist and ambassador who died in 2002 — as a diplomatic backdrop.
Last year, he hosted President Xi Jinping of China at Sunnylands for a two-day meeting that was noted for its unusual informality and was interpreted as a milestone in their nations’ often tense and generally stilted four-decade diplomatic history.
The resort is “conducive to a conversation” between Mr. Obama and King Abdullah, “given all the issues they face and given their warm relationship,” said Eric Schultz, a White House spokesman.The resort is “conducive to a conversation” between Mr. Obama and King Abdullah, “given all the issues they face and given their warm relationship,” said Eric Schultz, a White House spokesman.
Mr. Obama will sleep at the estate — the canary-yellow master bedroom is equipped with speakers that pipe in the songs of the birds outdoors. The president arrived at the Palm Springs International Airport about 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time on a day when the temperature hovered around 90 degrees.
The president arrived at the Palm Springs International Airport about 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, with the temperature hovering around 90 degrees. He was scheduled to hold a quick meeting with the king before the two men sat down for dinner.
Hours earlier, Mr. Obama delivered remarks in Fresno, Calif., more than 300 miles to the north, about the federal response to California’s severe drought. The water shortage has placed extra scrutiny on usage here in the Coachella Valley, where intensive irrigation has transformed the desert scrubland into lush lawns and golf courses.Hours earlier, Mr. Obama delivered remarks in Fresno, Calif., more than 300 miles to the north, about the federal response to California’s severe drought. The water shortage has placed extra scrutiny on usage here in the Coachella Valley, where intensive irrigation has transformed the desert scrubland into lush lawns and golf courses.
Palm Springs residents use 736 gallons of water per day, among the highest usage rate in the state, according to a state database.Palm Springs residents use 736 gallons of water per day, among the highest usage rate in the state, according to a state database.
The president has no public events scheduled beyond the meeting with King Abdullah, and he is expected to spend much of the time golfing. (He does not have to go far for a quick fix: Sunnylands has a nine-hole course.)The president has no public events scheduled beyond the meeting with King Abdullah, and he is expected to spend much of the time golfing. (He does not have to go far for a quick fix: Sunnylands has a nine-hole course.)
King Abdullah arrived here on Thursday, and visited with Gov. Jerry Brown of California ahead of Mr. Obama’s arrival. “Meeting with the King of Jordan to discuss drought, the efficient use of water and renewable energy,” Mr. Brown said in a tweet that included a photo of the two on a sunny path, in unnecessary blazers.King Abdullah arrived here on Thursday, and visited with Gov. Jerry Brown of California ahead of Mr. Obama’s arrival. “Meeting with the King of Jordan to discuss drought, the efficient use of water and renewable energy,” Mr. Brown said in a tweet that included a photo of the two on a sunny path, in unnecessary blazers.