King meets with world leaders in New York

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday met with world leaders currently participating in the 69th UN General Assembly meetings held in New York.

King Abdullah, in the presence of HRH Crown Prince Hussein, met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Peruvian President Ollanta Humala, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi, Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, according to a Royal Court statement. 

At the meetings, the King discussed regional developments, calling for international efforts to revive Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations and assist in rebuilding Gaza in the aftermath of the Israeli aggression.

His Majesty also warned of the developments in Iraq and the humanitarian tragedy unfolding there.

The world should stand united against terrorist organisations and extremist practices that have been erroneously blamed on Islam, he noted.

Discussions also covered the situation in Syria and its effect on neighbouring states, with the King outlining the extra burdens Jordan is shouldering as a result of the refugee crisis, and calling for more international aid.

The officials commended Jordan’s relief efforts in Gaza and its hosting of Syrian refugees, voicing appreciation of the Kingdom’s activities to fight extremism and promote peace and security in the world and the region.

On Tuesday, King Abdullah attended a summit hosted by US President Barack Obama in New York of the coalition of countries participating in efforts to confront terrorism in the region. 

At the meeting, Obama thanked the King and participants from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain, highlighting the efforts of the current joint action against terrorism to achieve security and stability, and guarantee economic growth and prosperity in the Middle East.

The US president stressed that military actions in this regard seek to empower young people in the region and provide them with a path to secure education opportunities and means for success. 

Stakeholders have to make sure they are providing the education necessary for young people to succeed in a modern economy, Obama noted. 

King Abdullah also met with Iraq’s President Fouad Massoum on Tuesday to discuss ongoing cooperation between Jordan and Iraq and ways to develop it. 

The two sides addressed the developments in Iraq and efforts exerted to achieve national reconciliation among the various components of the Iraqi people. The meeting covered international and regional efforts to combat terrorism and extremism and the repercussions of such trends on the region. 

Massoum commended His Majesty’s efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, and thanked Jordan for its support to Iraq in its efforts to overcome various challenges and arrive at a better future for the Iraqi people.    

At another meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Tammam Salam, the King and the Lebanese official reviewed regional developments and means to strengthen ties between the two nations. 

King Abdullah and Salam also discussed challenges facing the region and ways to confront bigotry, radicalism and terrorism, in particular. 

His Majesty reiterated Jordan’s readiness to support Lebanon in a manner that boosts the unity of the Lebanese people and empowers the development of the country. 

During a separate meeting with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, the King and the premier examined the latest regional developments, focusing on the crises in Syria and Iraq, and discussed efforts under way to achieve regional peace. 

On Iraq, the King noted that the formation of the new Iraqi government is an important step that should be built on, and asserted Jordan’s support for efforts to boost Iraq’s unity and to arrive at national reconciliation,

With regard to Syria, His Majesty outlined the repercussions of the continuation of the crisis in Syria, which has taken its toll on countries that are hosting Syrian refugees and outlined the massive responsibilities Jordan has undertaken as a host country. 

The Monarch urged the international community to intensify efforts to inject new momentum into the peace process and to help produce the right conditions for the resumption of the Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations, in pursuance of the two-state solution and related international resolutions, stressing that the negotiations must address all final-status issues, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the pre-1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

King Abdullah and Renzi discussed regional and international efforts to combat extremism and terrorist groups which pose a threat to regional and global security. 

For his part, Renzi highlighted his country’s vision vis-à-vis regional developments, expressing Italy’s commitment to work with Jordan in dealing with the various challenges facing the region. 

King Abdullah also met with David Miliband, president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee, with whom he reviewed efforts exerted to deal with the issue of Syrian refugees hosted in neighbouring countries, as well as Jordan’s relief efforts in this context.

Miliband expressed the committee’s support for Jordan’s relief efforts, stressing the importance of global cooperation.