Jordan Times
Thursday, March 2, 2006
King, Bolkiah talk bilateral relations, Mideast issues
His Majesty King Abdullah and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei held talks Wednesday in Darussalam on Mideast issues and means to enhance bilateral relations. The two leaders underlined the importance of enhancing private sector cooperation in both countries. The King briefed Bolkiah on investment opportunities in Jordan and talked about the possibility of allocating seats for Brunei students at Jordanian universities.
On the Palestinian situation, the Monarch and Bolkiah called for resuming peace talks with Israel and said the coming stage was "critical" for the Palestinians' future. The King, meanwhile, reiterated the importance of supporting the political process in Iraq, warning against attempts to incite sedition among Iraqis. The Monarch also spoke about his efforts to spell out the true essence of Islam as a faith that calls for peace and rejects violence. The two leaders urged more solidarity among Muslim countries, which, they said, should work to enhance their joint action. The King and Bolkiah renewed their condemnation of the cartoons that vilified the Prophet Mohammad, saying that such caricatures cannot be justified in the name of freedom of expression — Petra