Dead Sea, Jordan, May 15, SPA --Jordan's King Abdullah II todayopened the World Economic Forum (WEF) conference on the Middle East by declaring that US President Barack Obama's commitment to the two-state solution had "opened an opportunity to change the direction of events" in the Middle East, according to dpa. "I was encouraged by the president's commitment to the two-statesolution, within a regional approach to comprehensive peace. I wasencouraged that in all my conversations in Washington, it was clearthat people know inaction is not an option," the monarch said. "The new American commitment has now opened an opportunity tochange the direction of events," king Abdullah told more than 1,400political, business and civil society leaders who gathered at theeastern shore of the Dead Sea in the fifth such conference since2004. The Jordanian leader referred to the outcome of his meeting withObama at the White House on April 21, when the president voicedstrong support to the two-state vision for resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Obama also expressed backing for the Arab peaceinitiative. "The Arab peace initiative has offered Israel a place in theneighbourhood and more: acceptance by 57 nations, the one third ofthe UN members that do not recognise Israel," the king said. The three-day meeting is held this year under the theme:"Implications of the Global Economic Crisis for the Middle East:Home-grown Strategies for Success".--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/664590