Jordan Times
Tuesday, September 14, 1999
King Abdullah calls for stronger Jordanian-Lebanese relations
BEIRUT (Agencies) — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday started a two-day state visit to Lebanon with a call for stronger Jordanian-Lebanese relations and for joint efforts to establish the long-aspired Arab common market.
King Abdullah, on the first visit to Lebanon by a Hashemite monarch in more than 30 years, said at a meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Salim Hoss that “Jordan hopes that practical steps will be taken for the achievement of that goal gradually so as to arrive at what is aspired for and what is needed in order to fulfil the idea of pan-Arab economic integration and translate it into facts on the ground.”
“In Jordan we look forward to serious action aimed at bolstering cooperation and integration between the Kingdom and the rest of the Arab countries on all fronts, particularly in economic, trade and tourism fields,” the King said.
Political sources in Beirut said King Abdullah's visit, which comes at an invitation by President Emile Lahoud, is expected to open new horizons in Lebanese-Jordanian relations.
Economically Lebanon and Jordan have agreed to set up a free trade zone, and the two sides are expected to discuss an agricultural calendar to better organise seasonal trade so that only the surplus of products in one country would be sent to the other.
King Abdullah, who was welcomed upon arrival by Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, discussed the Middle East situation with Hoss, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The King stressed Jordan's stand with regard to the peace process, saying “our position is based on principled and firm stands, and we are for a peace to which the peoples of this region aspire, a peace based on international resolutions. The peace process should resume from the point at which it stopped, particularly on the Israeli-Syrian and Israeli-Lebanese tracks.”
He reaffirmed at the meeting with Hoss the importance of linking the Lebanese and Syrian positions and reiterated Jordan's support for both of its Arab neighbours and the struggle to regain their occupied lands, Petra said.
In an interview with the Lebanese newspaper Nida Al Watan published on Monday, King Abdullah said he was optimistic that talks involving Israel, Syria and Lebanon could resume soon following the recent visit of U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to the region.
King Abdullah did not predict a date for resumption of negotiations, but said “let us wait two weeks or a month” for the parties to eliminate obstacles standing in the way of reviving the talks.
Petra quoted the King as reaffirming the rights of the Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland.
“For us the right to return is sacred, and we will work towards securing that right in cooperation with brotherly and friendly nations,” King Abdullah said.
“We consider this right as one of our national priorities because it concerns a large sector of our people. We will defend this right with all our might because we believe that there can be no meaning to peace without a just settlement of the refugee question in implementation of U.N. resolutions which guarantee the right of the refugees to return and compensation.”
King Abdullah, who is accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Rania, met with Lahoud, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and Parliament Speaker Nabih Barri to discuss the Middle East peace process and review bilateral relations.
In another meeting with representatives of the Lebanese business community, the King stressed Jordan's determination to attract investors from Lebanon and other nations.
A statement issued by Lahoud's office said King Abdullah's visit was an “expression of brotherly relations” between the Jordanian and Lebanese people and comes within the framework of strengthening bilateral relations and preserving Arab national interests.
King Abdullah is accompanied on the visit by Prime Minister Abdur Ra'uf S. Rawabdeh, Chief of the Royal Court Abdul Karim Kabariti, Foreign Minister Abdul Ilah Khatib, Senate President Zeid Rifai, Lower House Speaker Abdul Hadi Majali, and other senior officials.
Queen Rania visits rehabilitation centre
Queen Rania, accompanied by HRH Princess Zein, on Monday visited a project for the rehabilitation of the disabled and was briefed on its activities and the services it offers to people with special needs.
The project, located in the Sin El Fil area, aims to integrate the disabled in their communities and to enhance their participation in economic activity as productive members of the society.
Queen Rania, Princess Zein and Lebanon's First Lady Andrea Lahhoud also visited the United Nations Development Fund For Women (UNIFEM) Regional Office for Western Asia where she was briefed by its director Randa Husseini on its projects and future plans.
The fund is carrying out projects designed to empower women and promote their awareness of such important issues as reproductive health.
The Queen was accompanied by Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, UNIFEM's Amman-based regional advisor.