King discusses partnership, region with Belgian FM

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday stressed during a meeting with Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders Jordan's keenness to develop cooperation with Belgium at all levels in a way that boosts partnership with the European Union.

The meeting, held at Al Husseiniya Palace, also addressed the latest developments in the Middle East and ways to overcome regional challenges, especially efforts to fight terrorist organisations and achieve peace and stability for the region and its peoples, according to a Royal Court statement.

King Abdullah renewed the importance for intensifying the efforts of regional and international stakeholders, including the EU and Belgium, to provide conducive circumstances to revive the peace process between the Palestinians and the Israelis, and to address obstacles hindering the resumption of negotiations, based on the two-state solution.

For his part, Reynders expressed his country's willingness to develop its relations with the Kingdom in different fields, praising the Jordanian role in achieving peace and enhancing international peace and stability.

Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, King’s Office Director Jafar Hassan and Belgian Ambassador to Jordan Thomas Baeklandt also attended the meeting.

Also on Sunday, Judeh met separately with Reynders and discussed with him international efforts to counter terrorist organisations that “pose the biggest threat to the region and the entire world”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The meeting also focused on the latest developments in Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Libya.

Both sides also reviewed the humanitarian situation of Syrian refugees in the Kingdom and the repercussions Jordan is shouldering as a host, according to Petra.