King meets Iraqi defence minister

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday received Iraq’s Defence Minister Khaled Al Obeid at Al Husseiniya Palace over cooperation between the two countries, especially in the military field, according to a Royal Court statement.  

Also on Monday, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour met with Obeid and his accompanying delegation. 

Ensour, who was in Baghdad last week, asserted Jordan’s support for Iraq, especially at this stage while Iraq is working to counter terrorist challenges.

The premier said during his visit to Baghdad he carried to the Iraqi leadership a clear message confirming Jordan’s support, including its willingness to train Iraqi forces.

During the meeting, attended by Interior Minister Hussein Majali, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani and Iraq’s Ambassador to Jordan Jawad Abbas, Ensour stressed his confidence in Iraq’s strength and unity. 

“I have just returned from Baghdad and I am fully convinced that Iraq is strong and recovering,” said the premier, noting that Iraq is unified today in the face of terrorist groups that have mostly harmed the image of Islam, in an apparent reference to the Islamic State terror organisation that has taken hold of large swathes of Iraq and east Syria. 

Stressing that Jordan does not interfere in Iraqi affairs or in the affairs of any country in any way, Ensour said: “We are with Iraq, regardless of the existing regime.” 

Supporting Iraq’s unity is in line with Jordan’s national interests and its moral duties, Ensour told the visiting delegation, highlighting the historic position of Iraq and the opportunities of joint action. 

The visiting minister commended Jordan’s supportive stand, emphasising that “the Iraqi people and government believe that Jordan has historically been a backer of Iraq without interfering in its internal affairs”. 

Obeid said Iraq is facing big challenges and needs all the support it can garner to overcome them. 

Iraq is looking forward to building a professional army that would be capable of defending the country, he said, expressing his country’s desire to increase its cooperation with Jordan and to benefit from the Jordanian expertise in training Iraqi troops.