Jordan Times
Monday, May 30, 2005
King receives Greek Catholic
patriarch
AMMAN (Petra) — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday met with head of the Greek
Catholic Church in the Orient Patriarch Gregorious III, who is on a visit to the
Kingdom.
Patriarch Gregorious said the Kingdom has set a model of coexistence regionally
and internationally.
He said the Amman Message stands as a distinguished initiative, highlighting
Islam's tolerance and moderation.
The patriarch arrived in Amman on May 20, on his first visit to the Kingdom
since his election in 2000, and has met with members of Christian community
across the Kingdom, in addition to visiting several holy sites.
King's Adviser on Islamic Affairs Chief Islamic Justice Izzeddine Khatib Tamimi,
Bishop George Murr and Father Nabil Haddad, director of the Jordanian Interfaith
Coexistence Centre, attended the meeting.
Also yesterday, the Monarch met with UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom Rahma Al
Zaabi, who delivered a letter from UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Ben Zayed Al
Nahayan, thanking King Abdullah for his invitation. In his letter the UAE
president said he would pay a visit to the Kingdom in the near future.
King Abdullah also met with a group of US congressional aides at the Royal Court
yesterday.
During the meeting, the Monarch emphasised that achieving development and
prosperity in the region is primarily connected with finding a just, sustainable
and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue, which stands out as the
core of conflict in the region.
He highlighted the importance of continued US administration's efforts to boost
the peace process, as well as its support for both sides, the Palestinians and
the Israelis, to enable them to overcome obstacles in the way of achieving
tangible progress.
King Abdullah also stressed the need for the Gaza pullout to be followed by
further withdrawal from the West Bank, so as to establish an independent
Palestinian state that is a viable and geographically connected state coexisting
with Israel, in accordance with the roadmap.
On Iraq, the King highlighted the Kingdom's stand with regard to restoring
security and stability in the country.
The government invited the congressional aides through the Kingdom's embassy in
Washington.
According to a US embassy official in Amman, the aides are from House of
Representatives committee staff and individual congressional offices, among them
the International Relations Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia,
which has oversight on US policy towards nations in the Middle East and Central
Asia.