Razzaz, Emirati vice president discuss Mecca summit, London initiative

AMMAN — Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashed Al Maktoum, the UAE's vice president, prime minister and ruler of Dubai, on Monday received Prime Minister Omar Razzaz in Abu Dhabi, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

During a short working visit to the UAE, the premier conveyed His Majesty King Abdullah’s greetings to Emirati President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashed Al Maktoum and the Emirati people, stressing His Majesty's support for steps that would perpetuate the relations between the two countries.

The meeting focused on the importance of boosting bilateral ties to serve the interests of both countries and peoples, with Razzaz expressing delight over the level of coordination and cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

The prime minister affirmed that Jordan and the UAE have strong historical ties and are united in their stances and visions on various issues of mutual interest, praising the UAE's position towards Jordan in various circumstances, especially during the economic challenges facing the Kingdom.

Razzaz commended the UAE's devotion, along with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, to implement the outcomes of the Mecca summit to support Jordan, stressing that these positions reflect the “depth of relations”, according to Petra.

The premier reviewed Jordan’s efforts to achieve economic reform and overcome the challenges facing it during the past years, such as the high cost of generating electricity due to gas outage, the halt in exports to neighbouring countries such as Iraq and Syria and the burdens of hosting more than 1.3 million Syrian refugees. 

He pointed out that the upcoming London Initiative is one of the steps aiming to support the Kingdom’s reform efforts, achieve sustainable economic growth, attract investments and achieve self reliance, noting that Jordan has exerted enormous efforts to garner the necessary momentum in order to ensure the London initiative’s success.

For his part, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashed Al Maktoum stressed the UAE’s keenness to enhance ties between the two brotherly countries in various fields, reiterating the UAE’s commitment to implement the Mecca summit’s outcomes and pledges.

The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Ezzeddine Kanakrieh, Jordan’s Ambassador to the UAE Jumaah Abbadi and acting consul general of Jordan in Dubai Shafa Amoush, as well as Emirati Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future Mohammed Al Gergawi, the UAE’s Minister of Health and Prevention Abdul Rahman Al Owais and UAE’s Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Bint Ebrahim Al Hashimy, among other Emirati officials.