Paris, Sept. 18 (Petra)
His Majesty King Abdullah II met in Paris on Thursday with French Prime Minister Manuel Valls and discussed with him Jordanian-French ties as well as the latest developments in the Middle East.
During the meeting, the King highlighted the strong ties between the two countries and stressed his keenness to further boost them, mainly in the economic and investment fields.
His Majesty also reviewed efforts to bring about peace and stability in the region. He also emphasized the need to continue efforts to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on the two-state solution, the Arab Peace Initiative and the international legitimacy resolutions, leading to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state as per the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
On Syria, King Abdullah reiterated Jordan's stance that calls for a comprehensive political solution to the crisis in Syria. He also reviewed the burden being shouldered by Jordan as a result of hosting more than 1.4 million Syrian refugees and thanked France for the assistance provided to Jordan in this regard.
His Majesty also spoke about the latest developments in Iraq and their repercussions on the security and stability of the region, calling for a political solution to the crisis with the participation of all segments of the Iraq society.
The King said that failure to find radical solutions to Middle East crises will expand terrorism and extremist tendencies, stressing the need for an active international cooperation to put an end to these tendencies that threaten security and stability in the region and the world.
The French prime minister voiced his country's keenness to further enhance relations with Jordan in various domains.
He also praised King Abdullah's wisdom in dealing with regional issues as well as His Majesty's efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region.
King Abdullah also visited today, the French National Assembly in Paris and met with its President Claude Bartolone and reviewed with him bilateral ties, mainly in the parliamentary and legislative fields as well as the current situation in the Middle East.
He also visited the French Senate and met with its President Jean-Pierre Bel and discussed with him Jordanian-French ties as well as regional issues of common interest.
The two meetings that were attended by the Senate president and the Lower House speaker, focused on the historical friendship between the two countries and ways to further boost it in various fields.
The King voiced appreciation for France's support to Jordan's reform and development efforts, and stressed the need to benefit from the French experience in the legislative and monitoring fields.
Talks also covered Jordan's reform process and the role of the Parliament in approving laws and legislation regulating political life to enhance public participation in decision making and enhance democracy.
The presidents of the French National Assembly and the Senate expressed appreciation for the King's role to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East.
At the end of his visit to the French Senate, His Majesty signed the visitors' book.
King Abdullah also met in Paris with French religious leaders and discussed with them their role in supporting peace, coexistence, and tolerance among various cultures and religions as well as enhancing dialogue between the East and the West.
His Majesty highlighted Jordan's role to clarify the true image about Islam through the Amman Message and the Common Word Initiative and through hosting conferences that aim to enhance interfaith dialogue and understanding.
The King briefed the religious leaders on Jordan's efforts to defend Islam and highlighted the contribution of Arab Christians to the Arab civilization.
The religious leaders praised the role and efforts of His Majesty to support world peace and stability.
© Jordan News Agency - Petra 2014
