‘Kingdom stands out as regional example of mine-clearing efforts’

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday met with Maj. Gen. James Cowan, CEO of HALO Trust, a humanitarian mine clearance organisation, according to a Royal Court statement. 

Talks, which took place at Al Husseiniya Palace and were attended by HH Prince Mired, chairman of the National Committee for Demining and Rehabilitation, focused on Jordan’s successful drive to clear, by 2012, all landmines on its land, making the Kingdom the first Middle Eastern country to complete such a task.

They also went over the humanitarian role of the Halo Trust, while Cowan commended Jordan's role in the field of mine clearance, noting that HALO Trust adopts Jordan as a regional hub for technical training.

According to a HALO Trust statement, Cowan said: "The humanitarian need in the Middle East is enormous. The people of this region are among the worst affected by landmines, IEDs and explosive debris of all kinds. We are extremely grateful for the support of His Majesty and the help being provided to HALO by Jordan," 

Jordan is one of the first countries to sign the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty in 1998. 

Also on Wednesday, King Abdullah met with a delegation of senior officers from the US’ the National Defence University, headed by retired Gen. Gregory Martin, the Royal Court said. 

During the meeting, the King and the delegates discussed regional developments and Jordan’s efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East as well as the endeavours to help forge political solutions to regional crises. 

The meeting focused on efforts to revive the Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations based on a two-state solution, in addition to developments in Syrian and Iraqi landscapes and regional and international efforts to combat terrorism within a holistic strategy. 

The meeting was attended by Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh and King’s Office Director Jafar Hassan. 

Mafraq MP Raed Khazaaleh, who heads the Lower House, Foreign Affairs Committee, and the committee members also met with the National Defence University delegates over bilateral relations and regional developments.

Khazaaleh said the quick-paced events in the region require continuous coordination and cooperation to properly address regional issues, commending Washington’s supportive stances to Jordan.