Jordan Times
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
King returns from Abu Dhabi
By P. V. Vivekanand
ABU DHABI — His Majesty King Abdullah returned home on Monday after concluding a
three-day visit to the UAE, where he attended the opening of the International
Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX 2005), the Middle East region's largest
military show.
The exhibition drew high praise from King Abdullah, who said he was impressed by
the advanced level reached by the UAE in planning and organising major
specialised exhibitions.
The Monarch noted that IDEX 2005 showcases the most advanced defence technology
and systems, and this places the event among the world's high profile defence
shows.
HRH Prince Faisal and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Khalid
Sarayreh, who accompanied the King on his trip, on Monday paid a visit to the
King Abdullah Design and Development Bureau pavilion at the exhibition, the
Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
They toured the exhibition, which is displaying a wide range of defence and
defence-related products and services.
Meanwhile, the UAE has signed an agreement with the Kingdom's Advanced
Industries of Arabia (AIA) to buy “Tiger” armoured personnel carriers at a cost
of 153.7 million dirhams (around $42 million).
UAE military procurement chief Brigadier Obaid Al Ketbi made the announcement on
the fringes of IDEX 2005, which got under way here on Sunday.
Ketbi did not say how many “Tiger” vehicles were being bought.
The vehicles are produced in Jordan in a joint project with the UAE and its
success was cited as a model for Arab cooperation in defence and related
industries by Prime Minister Faisal Fayez.
Speaking to reporters after touring the exhibition, Faisal, who also accompanied
His Majesty King Abdullah to Abu Dhabi to attend the opening of the event, paid
tribute to the professionalism reflected in the good organisation of IDEX as one
of the prestigious events hosted by the UAE.
Events like IDEX are forums for Arab countries to familiarise themselves with
advanced defence technologies and systems, he said, adding that Arab countries
should arm themselves with latest weaponry for self-defence.
He also called for increased inter-Arab cooperation and cited the success of the
joint UAE-Jordan “Tiger” project as an example of such cooperation.