Jordan Times
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Premier calls for greater cooperation with Iraq
AMMAN (Petra) — Prime Minister Marouf Bakhit on
Tuesday reaffirmed Jordan's keenness on bolstering ties with Iraq and its full
support for the Iraqi people to help them overcome the present difficult
circumstances.
Speaking at a meeting yesterday with Iraqi government spokesman Laith Kubba,
Bakhit said Jordan backs the ongoing political process and the preparations
under way for next month's general elections that would project pluralistic
representation of the various Iraqi factions.
Kubba conveyed a verbal message from Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari to
Bakhit, expressing his good wishes on the formation of the new government and
stressing Iraq's concern towards enhancing Jordanian- Iraqi relations.
Speaking in the presence of Iraq's Ambassador to Jordan Atta Abdul Wahab, Bakhit
emphasised the importance of greater cooperation and coordination and the
exchange of information to combat terrorism.
In October, the Kingdom signed an agreement with Iraq to boost security along
the border in the fight against “terrorism and organised crime.”
Also on Tuesday, Bakhit met with Somali Deputy Prime Minister Ismail Mahmoud
Hirreh who is on a visit to the Kingdom.
The premier expressed the Kingdom's readiness to extend assistance and expertise
to Somalia to help consolidate security and stability in the African country.
Following the meeting, Hirreh described the talks as fruitful, noting that his
country is seeking to benefit from Jordanian expertise and cooperate in the
fields of maritime transport, trade and livestock breeding.