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A meeting of the minds

May 14,2015 - Last updated at May 14,2015

His Majesty King Abdullah’s visit to Germany for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other high German officials stands out as one of the most successful official visits the King has made in recent times, in terms of extent of common thoughts and perspectives that emerged from the talks.

Merkel’s calling Jordan a “strategic partner in dealing with current challenges and promoting stability and security in the Middle East and the world as whole” clearly attests to the high regard the chancellor, and not only her, has for the Kingdom’s principled position and for the wise policy that managed to keep the country safe and stable when all around is turmoil, war and destruction.

Of course, ties are mutual, and Germany’s support in various fields was acknowledged by the King when he said that it “boosts [Jordan’s] capabilities in dealing with economic challenges and carrying out development programmes”.

Jordanian-German ties, always cordial and strong, will be boosted by the visit, as both heads of state expressed commitment to boosting them in various fields.

The King, acknowledging the importance of German investment in Jordan, said that it “is bearing fruit for both our countries in a wide range of economic, cultural and educational fields”.

Besides bilateral relations, the meeting also tackled regional issue, on which the two leaders see eye-to-eye.

In the case of Palestine, they called for the two-state solution.

With regard to the rising dangers of Daesh, the King called for a holistic approach to terrorism and radicalism covering terrorism not only in Iraq and Syria but also elsewhere in north and central Africa as well as in the Horn of Africa.

The threat is real for all and calls for a multidimensional approach to eradicate it.

Berlin shows appreciation for Jordan’s regional role, be it on the battlefields in Iraq, Syria or Yemen, but also at home, where the Kingdom hosts a million-and-a-half Syrians who place a big burden on its meagre resources.

Germany is one of the main contributors to the cost of the Syrian refugees, but Jordan still needs more help from the international community if it is to remain capable of assuming its regional role in promoting peace and security for all.

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