King chairs new round of Aqaba Process meetings

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, on Wednesday chaired a new round of Aqaba Process meetings.

The meetings, held via teleconference, covered security challenges emerging in light of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and ways to address them, in addition to means of unifying and integrating efforts among all stakeholders to counter the threats of terrorism and extremism, according to a Royal Court statement.

King Abdullah stressed the importance of maintaining international coordination in this regard, especially in light of the global implications of COVID-19.

The meetings also covered His Majesty’s call for reglobalisation to achieve better international integration and increase positive interdependence, in order to invest in skills, resources, and capacity-building across borders, for the benefit of all peoples.

This round of meetings — attended by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi Bin Muhammad, His Majesty’s chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs and personal envoy — saw the participation of the presidents of Nigeria, the Philippines, Kenya, and Bulgaria; and the prime ministers of Canada, Bulgaria, and Albania; in addition to UN and Interpol secretaries general and NATO’s deputy secretary general.

Senior political, military, and defence officials from Asia, Europe, Africa, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, in addition to the executive director of the Global Internet Forum to Counterterrorism and other international partners were also in attendance.

The Aqaba Process initiative, launched by His Majesty in 2015, aims to enhance security and military coordination and cooperation, as well as the exchange of expertise and information, among various regional and international stakeholders, to counter terrorism within a holistic approach.

Due to global interest in its themes, the Aqaba Process initiative’s meetings have also been held outside Jordan, in Albania, the Netherlands, Nigeria, the United States, the United Nations and Singapore.

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Adviser to His Majesty for Policies Bisher Al Khasawneh and General Intelligence Department Director Maj. Gen. Ahmad Husni attended the meetings.