Jordan, Austria discuss prospects of further cooperation

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday underlined Jordan’s commitment to further strengthening ties with Austria.  

At a meeting with Austrian President Heinz Fischer, the King stressed the need to develop the strategic partnership with the EU and boost cooperation, particularly at the trade and economic levels, according to a Royal Court statement. 

King Abdullah cited areas of possible cooperation between Jordan and Austria, especially concerning energy, water, transport and tourism exchange, in addition to a potential partnership between the Greater Amman Municipality and its Austrian peers. 

The two leaders underscored the importance of developing investment, trade and tourism exchange between both countries and encouraging more Austrian investments in the Kingdom, which is considered a gateway for the regional market. 

The Monarch highlighted opportunities inherent in the Jordanian-EU Association Agreement, calling on businesspeople and investors from both sides to take advantage of these benefits to best serve the interests of the two countries. 

Underscoring Jordan’s competitiveness-related points of strength, King Abdullah cited the Kingdom’s strategic location as a gateway to the Middle East and a crossroad between three continents, coupled with the stability, security and qualified manpower that the country boasts, in addition to its free trade agreements with several regional and international heavyweight partners.

Discussions, which continued over a lunch banquet held by the Austrian president in honour of the King and the accompanying delegation, also focused on the political situation in the Middle East, especially efforts exerted to bring about peace in light of the ongoing US-brokered negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis. 

King Abdullah highlighted that Jordan’s support of the current peace talks is driven by its conviction that the two-state solution, the international resolutions and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative provide the basis of just peace, which leads to the establishment of a viable and independent Palestinian state within the 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital. 

Regarding the situation in Syria, the Monarch reiterated his call to work out a comprehensive political solution to the crisis that would end the suffering of the Syrian people, stressing the burden the Kingdom is enduring due to hosting the largest number of Syrian refugees. 

For his part, Fischer voiced his country’s keenness to develop cooperation with Jordan, commending His Majesty’s efforts to achieve peace, security and stability in the region, according to the statement.  

The meeting was attended by HRH Prince Ghazi, the King’s chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs and personal envoy, Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, King’s Office Director Imad Fakhoury and Jordanian Ambassador in Vienna Hussam Husseini.