King, Armenian PM discuss bilateral ties

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah’s meeting on Tuesday with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Yerevan covered bilateral ties and means to advance them, especially in economic fields.

The meeting, attended by Their Royal Highnesses Prince Ali and Prince Ghazi, His Majesty’s chief adviser for religious and cultural affairs and personal envoy, also addressed the importance of the Jordanian-Armenian business forum, held this week in Yerevan, in enhancing economic and investment cooperation, according to a Royal Court statement.

 Speaking at the beginning of the meeting, King Abdullah highlighted the deep-rooted Jordanian-Armenian ties and the need to advance them, stressing the important role of the Armenian community in Jordan and the region. 

His Majesty expressed keenness to build partnerships among the private sectors of the two countries to expand opportunities for cooperation.

For his part, Prime Minister Pashinyan said that Armenia sees in the Middle East, and Jordan in particular, an opportunity for a strategic partnership.

He said that ties between the two countries are constantly growing, with concrete results and shared interests.

Discussions covered the need to maintain coordination on issues of mutual concern, as well as developments in the Middle East and means to reach political solutions to crises in the region, according to the statement.

Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Adviser to His Majesty for Communication and Coordination Bisher Al Khasawneh, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply Tareq Hammouri and a number of Armenian officials attended the meeting.

On the sidelines of His Majesty’s visit, Jordan and Armenia signed a memorandum of understanding on economic cooperation.

Moreover, a Jordanian-Armenian business forum was held to explore cooperation in the food industry, tourism, healthcare, textiles and the apparel industry, as well as the promotion of Dead Sea products, chemical products and fertilisers.

Also on Tuesday, the King met with Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians Karekin II, at the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.

At the meeting, attended by Their Royal Highnesses Prince Ali and Prince Ghazi, His Majesty stressed the important role of Armenians and Christians in Jordan, noting that they are an integral component of the region’s social fabric and part of the Middle East’s past, present and future.

The King also reaffirmed the importance of the Christian presence in Jerusalem, adding that Jerusalem is a city of peace that should unite, not divide.