Posted on 08/11/2008 1:09:46 PM PDT by knighthawk
Jordan's King Abdullah II held talks Monday with Iraq's prime minister after coming to Baghdad on an unannounced visit, the first by an Arab head of state since the U.S.-led invasion ousted Saddam Hussein in 2003.
Abdullah urged Arab governments to "extend their hand to Iraq" because a strong Iraq "is a source of strength for the Arab nation," according to a statement released by the royal palace in the Jordanian capital of Amman.
An Iraqi government statement said Abdullah had "frank and positive talks" with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on ties between the two states. Al-Maliki told the king that Iraq wanted to improve relations with all Arab countries, the statement said, according to the AP.
On his part, the monarch voiced Amman's support for Iraqi "efforts to impose stability," the statement added.
The king and Iraqi premier discussed the existing economic and trade relations between the two countries. An Iraqi oil supply to cover part of Jordan's oil demand was also a topic on the agenda, Petra news agency added..
Monday's visit had not been announced. An earlier trip set for last month was canceled because Jordanian officials did not want any advance publicity. Iraqi officials said the visit lasted only four hours and that the king left ahead of the announcement.
Ping
Can we go ahead and say the “war” in Iraq is over? It’s really just a peace keeping mission at this point.
Kudos to King Abdullah. He is as moderate and pro-Western as one can expect an Arab head of state to be (I think his mother is American). His wife Queen Rania has good looks, he starred on StarTrek and trains Iraqi security forces... sure they play occasionally the “poor Palestinians fiddle”, but what to expect from an Arab head of state...
His step-mother is, Queen Noor. King Abdullah has also done a lot to try to help Arab/Israel peace, being the only Arab leader to officially recognize Israel and sign a peace treaty with Israel that wasn't triggered by a war defeat. Jordan has a lot of work to do, especially in the areas of Palestine, but they are on the right path.
Abdullah had “frank and positive talks” with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki
Diplomatic speak for a not very friendly discussion. Still, it’s progress.
Perhaps the King and the other great arabs could help them to restore a Monarchy .
At least one placard read "Jordan's 9/11" - a reference to the 2001 terror attacks on America
After the wedding bombing...... in 2005
He went to school in the US too. He motorcycles, hang-glides, dives, and hikes all over Jordan. I saw this series of videos on YouTube where he took an American journalist on a tour of Jordan...from a purely tourist standpoint, it actually looks like kind of a cool place to visit.
It's good to be King .
Kings are soooooooo 15th century
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