Jordan Times
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
King concludes three-day east European tour
AMMAN (JT) — His Majesty King Abdullah returned
home on Tuesday, concluding a three-day east European tour that included
Croatia, the Czech Republic and Romania.
His Majesty's talks with the heads of the three states and senior officials
focused on bilateral ties and the situation in the Middle East. The King sought
an active role from the three countries in efforts to bring back stability to
this part of the world.
The Jordan News Agency, Petra, noted that the three countries have recently
achieved economic revival, recording remarkable economic growth amid efforts to
open up their economies and restructure their institutions.
The Czech Republic became a member of the EU this month, while Romania is due to
join the union in 2007. Croatia hopes to get official EU candidate status next
month.
The King concluded his two-day visit to Bucharest by meeting with Prime Minister
Adrian Nastase and other senior officials.
The two sides agreed to boost cooperation, particularly in the fields of energy,
water and communications.
A Jordanian delegation is due to visit Romania next month to discuss energy
projects with focus on electricity distribution.
Talks also focused on enhancing cultural cooperation, including exchange of
expertise and scholarships.
The two sides agreed to join ranks in ventures planned for postwar Iraq. King
Abdullah said Jordan is willing to facilitate coordination between Jordanian
firms and their Romanian counterparts interested in doing business in Iraq.
At the political level, the King and the Romanian premier discussed the future
of Iraq. Nastase, whose country will hold the rotating presidency of the UN
Security Council in July, said Bucharest would work for a key role for the
international organization in the reconstruction of Iraq.
King Abdullah also met with representatives of companies operating in the fields
of water, tourism, energy, oil and other vital sectors. He presented them with
prospects of investment in the Kingdom, calling for effective partnership
between the private sector in both countries.
On Monday, King Abdullah met Romanian President Ion Iliescu for talks on
bilateral ties, the Mideast peace process and the transition of power in Iraq,
scheduled for June 30.
The King highlighted Arab countries' collective commitment to peace with Israel
and reiterated the need for international efforts to build a viable political
system in war-torn Iraq.
Earlier Monday, King Abdullah held talks in Prague with President Vaclav Klaus
of the Czech Republic on bilateral relations and means of strengthening them.
The president pointed out Jordan's role in regional peace efforts to ensure
speedy transition of power to Iraqis. Briefed by the King on investment
opportunities in Jordan, Klaus said his country, which joined the EU earlier
this month, is keen to enhance ties with the Kingdom.
On Sunday, King Abdullah and Croatian President Stjepan Mesic held talks on the
Middle East and bilateral relations.
The King's European tour is part of his endeavors to develop bilateral relations
with the three countries in various fields.
Royal Court Minister Samir Rifai, the King's Adviser Akel Biltaji, and Minister
of Planning and International Cooperation Bassem Awadallah accompanied the King.
The Kingdom established diplomatic ties with Croatia in 1994 and with the Czech
Republic in 1964. It embarked on such ties with Romania in 1965, and upgraded
diplomatic representation to the ambassadorial level in 1974.
Agence France-Presse on Tuesday quoted Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader as
saying that Croatia and Jordan are ready to boost ties, notably in the economic
field.
After meeting King Abdullah on Monday, Sanader announced he would visit Jordan
within the next few months, accompanied by leading Croatian businessmen.
“By that time the government will have prepared concrete proposals for
cooperation with Croatian companies and we will call on them to accompany us,”
Sanader told journalists.
Sanader voiced hope that by then some of the bilateral agreements between the
two countries would have been prepared, such as those on free trade,
technological cooperation and the possible use of Croatian ports for Jordan's
exports to Europe.
Croatia's exports to Jordan reached $500,000 (417,000 euros) in 2003, while
imports amounted to $921,000 (768,000 euros), according to official figures
cited by AFP.