King meets with US House Foreign Affairs Committee delegation

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday met with a delegation from the US Congress’ House Foreign Affairs Committee, headed by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Royal Court statement said.

During the meeting, held at Al Husseiniya Palace, His Majesty and the delegation discussed cooperation between Jordan and the US in various fields, in addition to the latest regional developments.

The King outlined the challenges facing Jordan due to regional crises, voicing his appreciation for US economic support which has helped the Kingdom deal with the additional burdens and implement development projects and programmes.

The talks, attended by HRH Prince Feisal, also covered the Palestinian-Israeli peace process. His Majesty stressed the need to relaunch “serious and effective” negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis on the basis of the two-state solution and the Arab Peace Initiative. 

King Abdullah and the delegates also discussed the developments of the Syrian crisis and efforts to reach a political solution based on Geneva’s peace conventions, in addition to regional and international efforts to combat terrorism.

Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh and King Office Director Jafar Hassan attended the meeting.

Also on Sunday, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi met with the delegation, a Foreign Affairs Ministry statement said. 

Safadi stressed Jordan’s keenness on boosting bilateral relations with the US and enhancing partnership to achieve peace and stability in the region.

He also stressed the Kingdom’s appreciation for the US economic support, which contributed to dealing with the repercussions of regional crises.

Discussing efforts to solve regional crises, the top diplomat commended US President Donald Trump’s “determined stance” to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, reiterating Jordan’s keenness for a lasting peace based on the two-state solution.

Safadi and the delegation also discussed efforts to defeat terrorism as a common enemy that the Kingdom is fighting, in order to defend security, stability and peaceful values.

For her part, Ros-Lehtinen expressed her country’s appreciation of Jordan’s efforts to realise peace and security.