King visits Belgium energy projects, towns

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah and King Philippe of Belgium on Thursday visited the port of Bruges-Zeebrugge west of Belgium, according to a Royal Court statement. 

Zeebrugge is the biggest liquefied natural gas  terminal in Europe, receiving natural gas from the Troll gas field through underwater pipes located in the waters of the North Sea, in addition to having it carried through specialised gas transmitters from areas in Africa, Australia and the Middle East. 

Upon his arrival, His Majesty was received by Fluxys Belgium executives, port authority and local senior officials, and His Majesty was briefed on Fluxys' services in the field of natural gas, especially since there are 18 entry points for gas in the port. 

Fluxys Belgium is the independent operator of both the natural gas transmission grid and storage infrastructure in Europe.

During a helicopter tour His Majesty viewed the wind power generation stations in the North Sea and was briefed by the concerned authorities on how they operate.

His Majesty was accompanied by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour, Senate President Faisal Fayez, Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh, Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, King's Office Director Jafar Hassan, Planning and International Cooperation Minister Imad Fakhoury, Jordanian Ambassador in Brussels Yousef Batayneh and Belgian Ambassador to Jordan Hendrik van de Velde. 

King Abdullah and Her Majesty Queen Rania visited Bruges and were welcomed by Mayor Renaat Landuyt and his wife. In a ceremony to welcome the Royal visit, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium listened to a musical performance by Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army’s musical band. 

King Abdullah and Queen Rania also visited Flanders and were received by its Governor Carl Decaluwe and his wife, where a Royal feast was prepared in the presence of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, who saw Their Majesties off as they left to the US on a private visit. 

In remarks at a state dinner in Brussels held by the Belgian monarch in honour of Their Majesties and the accompanying delegation,  His Majesty King Abdullah said that the fight Jordan and its partners share is not only on geographic battlefields, but also on the global battleground of human values, human well-being and human solidarity, according to a Royal Court statement (see full speech in a separate story).

“The atrocities perpetrated by the khawarej are atrocities against Islam, thousands of Muslims have been victims, in fact the main targets of the khawarej. And Muslims across the world are not only fighting back, but leading the fight,” His Majesty added.

For his part, King Philippe delivered a speech during the dinner, welcoming King Abdullah and Queen Rania for paying the state visit to Belgium.

“You are a tireless advocate for peace, as was your father the late King Hussein, and a major player able to both forge a link between the countries in your region and the great powers, and to find areas of agreement and compromise. Queen Rania’s work in the fields of education, women empowerment and humanitarian issues is also admirable and highly valued,” he said.

“Jordan and Belgium have more in common than it might seem. We are both located in the heart of a strategically important region,” King Philippe said, adding that both countries are of medium size and importance that can take initiatives and propose compromised solutions more freely and easily than others.

The king added that Jordan is in the heart of a region affected by crises. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the instability in Iraq and Syria impose a heavy burden on Jordan and Jordanian population. 

“Despite the pressure that these continued influxes place on your society, you have always been willing to welcome them with open arms. We greatly admire this resolve to offer hospitality, in line with the old Bedouin tradition,” King Philippe said.