King meets Spain monarch in Madrid

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday reiterated Jordan’s keenness on working with Spain, through its upcoming European Union presidency, to help create a political horizon that would preserve the prospects of just and lasting peace, for the Palestinians and the Israelis..

At a meeting with King Felipe VI of Spain in Madrid, attended by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and Queen Letizia, King Abdullah said, “Our joint commitment to peace is evident in supporting the two-state solution as the path forward in resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict”.

His Majesty noted in the meeting, attended by HRH Prince Hashem Bin Abdullah, that peace on the basis of the two-state solution is key to ensuring peace and prosperity in the entire region, and beyond, according to a Royal Court statement.

“We will continue working with Spain to resolve the crises facing our wider Euro-Mediterranean region, out of our shared belief that dialogue and cooperation must be the way forward for mutual progress”, the King added.

In addition, His Majesty said Jordan and Spain are taking an important step in building partnerships, out of the realisation that “the only way forward is together. We cannot overcome the multitude of challenges facing our world alone”.

The King added that so much has happened in the world over the past eight years since his last visit to Spain, adding that despite crises, conflicts, and the pandemic, the relationship and the warm friendships “between our families, our peoples, and our countries have stayed true, and continued to grow from strength to strength”.

“It is such partnerships that form the foundation of global stability that is much needed for our regions, and our world. And today, this visit is yet another building block in solidifying this relationship, which has continued to grow over the past seven decades,” His Majesty said.

The King highlighted the fruitful talks held with King Felipe VI and President of the Government of Spain Pedro Sánchez, adding that he looks forward to launching a strategic partnership between the two countries.

His Majesty noted that elevating the ties between Jordan and Spain to the strategic level will enable both countries to work more closely on the issues that matter to both peoples and to the world.

In addition, the King said Jordan and Spain are partners in the pursuit of regional and global peace and prosperity, working together to counter the impact of climate change on food and energy security, pointing to a longstanding partnership in the economic, development, and humanitarian spheres.

“We are truly grateful for Spain’s support for our development efforts, and we look to expand our cooperation in education, tourism, cultural exchange, as well as water and energy,” His Majesty said, adding that both countries are equally dedicated to building a more stable world for future generations.

Turning to fighting terrorism, the King underlined that Spain and Jordan have come together to co-organise the latest round of the Aqaba Process meetings, which will take place on Tuesday in Cordoba, noting that he looks forward to fruitful discussions there with friends and partners, on strengthening global coordination in the fight against terrorism and extremism.

His Majesty also congratulated the Spanish Monarch on the anniversary of his coronation.

For his part, King Felipe VI commended the deep-rooted relations between the two countries and peoples, noting that King Abdullah’s visit marks his ninth coronation anniversary.

He underlined the strong ties between Jordan and Spain and their joint aspiration to democratic co-existence, progress and modernity, in addition to their keenness on actively contributing to peace in the region and across the globe.

The Spanish monarch reiterated the centrality of the Palestinian cause in the region, commending Jordan’s continuous efforts to reach just and lasting peace, on the basis of the two-state solution.

King Felipe VI also highlighted the pivotal role of the Hashemite Custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, which has international and Spanish support.

In addition, he expressed his country’s keenness on enhancing its partnership with Jordan within the Union for the Mediterranean, and through Spain’s rotating presidency of the EU.

King Felipe VI commended Jordan’s efforts in hosting Syrian refugees, as well as Palestinian and Iraqi refugees in the past, highlighting the importance of Jordan’s efforts towards reaching a solution to the Syrian crisis.

Describing Jordan as a centrepiece to a regional balance that is of strategic importance to Spain and Europe, the Spanish monarch highlighted Spain’s keenness on enhancing investment cooperation, especially in the water, renewable energy, and tourism sectors.

He also underlined the importance of elevating relations between the two countries to a strategic level to enhance cooperation in various fields.

 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Director of the Office of His Majesty Jafar Hassan, Jordan’s Ambassador to Spain Areej Hawamdeh, and a number of senior Spanish officials attended the meeting.