King meets Abu Dhabi crown prince over ties and region

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday met with Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi crown prince and deputy supreme commander of the UAE armed forces, and discussed bilateral ties and the latest regional developments.

At the Abu Dhabi meeting, King Abdullah and Sheikh Mohammad highlighted the "deep and brotherly" Jordanian-Emirati relations, expressing both countries' keenness to enhance them in a way that best serves the two peoples, according to a Royal Court statement. 

On the latest regional developments, they highlighted the significance of sustaining coordination and consultation between Jordan and the UAE, and responding to challenges facing the region, especially terrorism, within the context of a joint Arab action plan designed to boost the stability and security of the region and its peoples.

King Abdullah returned to the Kingdom later on Sunday.

Earlier in the day, His Majesty met with Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev as part of the Aqaba meetings that began on Saturday, another Royal Court statement said. 

King Abdullah on Saturday held separate meetings with Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga, Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

The meetings were part of a series of encounters held in January this year and April last year with leaders and representatives from around the world, including African countries, which were known as “Aqaba meetings” aimed at consolidating the global front against terrorism.

During the Aqaba meetings in January, the Monarch met with Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh and Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.

He discussed means to enhance consultation and coordination in counterterrorism efforts on the basis of a comprehensive approach that sees terrorism as a global threat not restricted to Syria and Iraq. 

During similar talks with senior US, Asian and Canadian officials as well as representatives of international organisations in January, His Majesty has also underlined the transborder nature of the danger of terrorist groups.

Moreover, the King has met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Tanzanian Foreign Minister Augustine Mahiga and senior officials from Kenya and Uganda.