Jordan Times
Tuesday, September 7, 1999
King, Queen arrive in Kuwait
Visit marks `historic new chapter in brotherly relations which bind us to Kuwait'
— King
KUWAIT (J.T.) — Their Majesties King Abdullah and Queen Rania on Monday started a two-day visit to Kuwait upon an invitation from Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah.
Their Majesties were accorded an official welcome ceremony upon arriving in Kuwait, with Sheikh Jaber leading top Kuwaiti officials and dignitaries.
In an arrival statement, the King said he felt very “at home.”
The visit marked a “historic new chapter in the brotherly relations which bind us to Kuwait,” he said in remarks carried by the Kuwaiti News Agency.
During the visit, the King and Sheikh Jaber will discuss ways of bolstering relations and a host of Arab and international issues of common concern to the two countries.
“This visit will allow the strengthening of Jordanian-Kuwaiti relations and open a new chapter of fruitful cooperation between our two countries,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Information Ayman Majali said.
Majali reiterated that there was “no particular agenda for the King's talks with Sheikh Jaber but the agenda will be open and will cover the whole range of issues that can contribute to the strengthening of bilateral and Arab ties.”
Jordanian government officials in Amman told the Associated Press that the King is likely to press for the re-hiring of skilled Jordanian labour in Kuwait as well as joint investment projects and increased trade. The agency said the officials spoke on condition of anonymity.
Some 350,000 Jordanians lived in Kuwait before the August 1990 Iraqi invasion of the emirate. Their remittances to relatives were a major source of income to Jordan.
Fewer than 30,000 Jordanians remained in Kuwait after its liberation by a U.S.-led alliance. The others either left during the crisis or were driven out by Kuwaitis who considered them to be supporters of the Iraqi occupiers. Scores of Jordanians were imprisoned for collaboration with the Iraqis, but they have since been released.
The acting chief of mission at the Kuwaiti embassy in Amman, Mite'eb Al Mtotah, said his country had no restrictions on Jordanian workers.
“But rehiring Jordanian labour depends on the need in the Kuwaiti market,'' he said. He declined to elaborate.
The state-run Kuwait news agency said Kuwait had given Jordan about $1.96 billion in aid in the 10 years before the Iraqi invasion. The King, AP said, might seek a resumption of such aid.
The King and the Queen are accompanied by HRH Princess Aisha, Prime Minister Abdur-Ra'uf S. Rawabdeh, Royal Court Chief Abdul Karim Kabariti, the speakers of Parliament, the ministers of foreign affairs, interior and industry and trade as well as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Lt. General Mohammad Malkawi, the director general of the General Intelligence Department and the head of the Economic Unit at the Royal Court.
Before the King's departure, HRH Prince Mohammad was sworn in as Regent.