The King considers “unacceptable” lives are taken while borders are redrawn

The Diplomat His Majesty the King criticised yesterday from Jordan those who choose war over peace and considered it “unacceptable” that “lives are being taken while borders are being redrawn”. King Felipe made an official visit of just over 24 hours to the Arab country, and made these statements during the meeting he held in Amman with the Jordanian monarch, Abdullah II, at the Al Husseiniya Palace. They were accompanied by Spanish and Jordanian delegations, which included the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares and Ayman Safadi, respectively. The King, who arrived in Amman on Saturday afternoon, said he had landed with a "heavy heart" in such a difficult context for Jordan and the entire Middle East, "where once again - he stressed - those who decide on war instead of peace change the destiny of millions of innocent civilians, ending lives while redrawing borders and displacing populations." "It is unacceptable," he said. Don Felipe expressed his support for the "crucial" role played by the Arab country in promoting regional stability and assured that "Spain and Jordan are united by a shared desire for peace and a common vision of prosperity for the region" which requires - he added - the materialization of "the only possible way out of the endless cycle of violence", that "two States, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace and stability." Likewise, the king stressed that the Hashemite monarchy has played an "exemplary and crucial" role. And he acknowledged Jordan's humanitarian leadership and its "immense generosity towards the innocent victims of the region's conflicts." Just as he did on Saturday in the first act upon his arrival in Amman at the meeting with representatives of the Spanish community, he highlighted Jordan's "tireless efforts" to bring aid to those who need it, which Spain will continue to support, as well as the compassion with which it has opened its doors "to those fleeing the scourge of war." The meeting with King Abdullah took place after the king's early morning visit to the UNRWA refugee camp in Ba'qa, on the outskirts of Amman, where he verified, he said, the work of this UN agency with the cooperation of AECID: "we can only admire Jordan's commitment to dealing with such a critical and long-lasting situation," he said. Felipe VI, after recalling the friendly relations that unite both royal houses, highlighted how Jordan and Spain are also key allies in the process of building a Mediterranean space. The King also referred to Jordan's domestic policy and highlighted the "immense effort" that the country is making to build "a better future", commendable in the "tumultuous" regional context. For Felipe VI, Jordan's recent elections are a testimony "to the resilience of Jordanian institutions and the unwavering spirit of renewal that prevails in the face of adversity", a situation in which the Hashemite kingdom, he guaranteed, "will always have Spain at its side". In this regard, he stressed that Abdullah's firm commitment to political and economic reform has already borne important fruit and has placed Jordan on the path to becoming one of the most forward-looking nations in the region. A vision shared by the EU, which now sees Jordan as a strategic partner, said Felipe VI, who recalled the important projects in which both countries collaborate, such as their "shared fight against the scourge of terrorism" that brought them together last year in Córdoba (Spain) within the framework of the Aqaba Process. Infrastructure, energy, water management and new technologies are areas in which they can continue to collaborate, said the King. After the bilateral meeting, a twinning event took place between the Alhambra and Petra at the Al Husseiniya Palace, where a video was shown and performances were made by the Spanish flamenco artist Laura Vital and Diana Karazon, a Jordanian singer and actress, winner of the first season of the popular Arab programme 'SuperStar' in 2003. The twinning agreement aims to preserve the historical heritage, promote cultural initiatives to improve knowledge of the Alhambra and the Generalife, and of Petra, or promote institutional visits for World Heritage events, among others. Petra was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985 and is one of the new seven wonders of the world.

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