King holds talks with Norway monarch over relations, regional developments

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah’s talks with King Harald V of Norway on Monday covered advancing bilateral ties and the latest regional and international developments.

At bilateral talks attended by Her Majesty Queen Rania, HRH Crown Prince Hussein, Queen Sonja, and Their Royal Highnesses Prince Ali, the escort of honour, and Princess Rym Ali, discussions touched on the strong relations between the two countries and the importance of maintaining coordination and consultation on issues of mutual concern, according to a Royal Court statement. 

 At the expanded talks, attended by the Crown Prince and Prince Ali, as well as senior officials on both sides, the King reaffirmed the need to expand cooperation between Jordan and Norway across all sectors, especially in economic fields.

In remarks at the meeting, His Majesty welcomed King Harald V and Queen Sonja on their first state visit to the Middle East, describing Jordan as their second home, the statement said.

The King also recalled the hospitality of the king and queen of Norway on His Majesty’s state visit to their country 20 years ago.

“We have had a wonderful relationship for almost half a century. And again, on the political aspects, we have been very close, working together on a lot of the regional issues,” His Majesty said.

The King noted the opportunity to see the private sectors of the two countries engage with each other in new partnerships, according to the statement.

“I just wanted to extend our admiration and our thanks to Norway — what it has done in bringing peoples together, whether it was at the Oslo process and many other functions,” His Majesty added.

“I also wanted to thank your government and your position, Your Majesty, on supporting what we believe is the only way to move forward in our part of the world on the Israeli Palestinian issue, and that is the two-state solution. So we commend the role of your government in supporting that,” the King said, voicing hope that wise minds will be able to find a way to bring Palestinians and Israelis together to move towards peace.

Welcoming King Harald V again, His Majesty said, “to have you here is a symbol of our future, and the prosperity that both our countries can go forward to”.

For his part, King Harald V thanked King Abdullah for the reception, saying, “it took us 20 years to get here, but now we are here, and we are very happy to be here”.

The Norwegian monarch said the meetings held this week will be productive in the two countries’ efforts to better the world, according to the statement. 

At the expanded talks, King Abdullah stressed the importance of capitalising on opportunities to build private sector partnerships between the two countries, especially in ICT, trade, entrepreneurship and renewable energy.

His Majesty thanked Norway for the support it provides in development sectors, including to Jordan’s response plan to the Syrian refugee crisis, serving refugees and host communities, the statement said.

 Talks also covered regional and international developments, with the King reaffirming the centrality of the Palestinian cause and the need to step up efforts to reach comprehensive and lasting peace on the basis of the two-state solution, guaranteeing the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state on the  June 4, 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital.

His Majesty commended Norway’s support for the peace process, and its history of working to reach a comprehensive solution, as well as its support for UNRWA.

Talks also addressed efforts to reach political solutions to regional crises, and to fight terrorism within a holistic approach.

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Adviser to His Majesty for Communication and Coordination Bisher Al Khasawneh, Adviser to His Majesty for Policies and Media Kamal Al Nasser, Minister of Trade, Industry, and Supply Tariq Hammouri, and Jordan’s Ambassador to Norway Janti Kalajoqa attended the meeting on the Jordanian side.

On the Norwegian side, Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Søreide, Minister of Trade and Industry Iselin Nybø, Norway’s Ambassador to Jordan Tone Allers, and the delegation accompanying the Norwegian king and queen attended the talks.

Earlier, an official welcoming ceremony was held for King Harald V and Queen Sonja at Al Husseiniya Palace.