King says optimistic in new direction towards hope for region’s peoples

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah expressed his optimism in the beginning of a new direction towards a future of progress and prosperity that inspires hope and trust in the peoples of the region.

“There seems to be a new spirit of cooperation and coordination between many of my friends around the region and so I come here to Washington to see how we can really turn 2021 into a positive year,” King Abdullah said Thursday in remarks to the media ahead of his meeting with US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, which was attended by HRH Crown Prince Hussein.

King Abdullah stressed that Jordan is in agreement with the United States on many of the regional issues and challenges, according to a Royal Court statement.

His Majesty expressed appreciation of the warm welcome by Speaker Pelosi and her colleagues at the Capitol, noting it has been a long time since the last visit to Washington because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re really glad to be back here, because one thing we have learned from this pandemic is that we haven’t been talking to each other in the same language of familiarity, which we should be. But I’m here in Washington to engage with the brotherly relationship we have with this country,” the King added.

His Majesty thanked the United States for providing Jordan with COVID vaccines recently, noting the boost it gives to the Kingdom’s efforts in countering the pandemic.

The King commended the US administration, Congress, and people, for their constant support for Jordan, noting the hard work that both countries will be doing again.

For her part, Speaker Pelosi expressed delight at welcoming His Majesty at the Capitol again, accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Rania and Crown Prince Hussein.

House Speaker Pelosi reflected on the congressional delegation’s most recent visit to Jordan before COVID-19, which she led, noting that discussions with His Majesty at the time covered regional security and stability, peace in the Middle East, as well as issues related to economic and resiliency.

The speaker expressed gratitude to the King and the Jordanian people for hosting a large number of Syrian refugees.

“America is grateful for this relationship. I take great pride in this because I’ve worked with His Majesty King Hussein and King Abdullah II while he was the Crown Prince. I know he brings a wealth of knowledge, intelligence, strategic thinking and values to these discussions. We always learn so much from him. I’m so happy that he’s with us in the Capitol today,” she said.

His Majesty also met with the US House leadership, and discussed means of bolstering the historical friendship between Jordan and the US, as well as Jordan’s programmes to alleviate COVID’s economic ramifications.

The meeting covered several regional issues, with the King reiterating the need to push the peace process forward and relaunch negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis, on the basis of the two-state solution, leading to the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Developments in Iraq were also on the meeting’s agenda, with His Majesty calling for supporting Iraqi efforts for enhancing security and stability.

On Syria, the King said it is important to step up international efforts to reach a political solution that safeguards the territorial integrity of Syria and the unity of its people, while guaranteeing the voluntary and safe return of refugees, stressing the need for the international community to shoulder its responsibilities towards Syrian refugees and host communities.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, and Jordan’s Ambassador in Washington, DC, Dina Kawar attended the meeting.