King meets Italian president in Rome

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Monday, at the start of his working visit to Italy.

The bilateral meeting, held at the presidential palace in Rome with the attendance of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and the Italian president's daughter Laura Mattarella, covered the deep-rooted ties between Jordan and Italy and several issues of mutual interest and means of bolstering cooperation across several fields, according to a Royal Court statement.

At the expanded meeting, attended by Jordanian and Italian senior officials, King Abdullah expressed appreciation for the longstanding relations between the two countries, stressing Italy's crucial role in the region.

For his part, the Italian president affirmed the importance of the historical relationship between the two countries, stressing the importance of cooperating with Jordan across various fields.

His Majesty reaffirmed the centrality of the Palestinian cause and the need for a political solution to support the Palestinians in seeking their just and legitimate rights by establishing an independent Palestinian state on the basis of the two-state solution, on the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The King noted the importance of maintaining support for Iraq’s efforts to bolster its security and stability, in order to restore its pivotal role in the region.

Turning to the Syrian crisis, His Majesty noted the need to step up efforts to find a political solution that safeguards its unity and territorial integrity, while guaranteeing the safe and voluntary return of refugees.

The meeting also covered efforts to enhance regional economic cooperation, with the King stressing the need to include Palestinians in regional projects for the benefit of the entire region.

The two leaders highlighted the importance of cooperation and consultation to counter global challenges related to climate change, and food and energy security.

For his part, President Mattarella reaffirmed that Jordan is one of Italy’s main partners in the region, lauding the pivotal and balanced role the Kingdom plays in the Middle East.

The Italian president underscored his country’s keenness to bolster ties and economic cooperation with Jordan, especially in infrastructure, energy, water, agriculture, culture and antiquities.

President Mattarella reaffirmed the two-state solution as a basis for ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, stressing that peace and stability cannot be achieved in the region without reaching a solution to the Palestinian cause.  

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Maj. Gen. Yousef Huneiti, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, Jordan’s Ambassador to Italy Qais Abu Daieh and a number of senior Italian officials attended the meeting.