JT and agencies

AMMAN/BAGHDAD - His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday held talks in Baghdad with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi.

The King, who arrived in the Iraqi capital for his first visit to the country by an Arab leader since the US-led invasion in 2003, stressed his willingness to support the security and stability of Iraq, “which is an integral part of the security and stability of the Arab nation”.

He said Jordan deals with all components of the Iraqi population on equal footing, adding that unifying the efforts and ranks of various Iraqi groups, including the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds, and putting the house in order is the only way to build a unified and sovereign Iraq that is capable of serving its people and Arab nation, according to a Royal Court statement in Amman.

The statement quoted the King as saying that Iraq will always be an advocate of Arab causes, urging all Arab countries to extend a helping hand to Iraq at this critical time because a “strong Iraq is a source of power for Arabs”.

Within this context, the statement added, the King underlined Jordan’s recent appointment of an ambassador to Iraq, describing the move as a “boost to bilateral ties”.

He said his visit to Iraq should be followed by mutual visits by officials from both countries at various levels to work out mechanisms to develop ties.

Talks focused on ways to encourage the private sector in both countries to explore cooperation prospects and enter joint ventures. The King said the two sides should build on the outcome of the Joint Jordan-Iraq Higher Committee meetings held in Amman recently.

King Abdullah and Maliki reviewed economic cooperation opportunities that benefit both the Jordanian and Iraqi people.

Maliki described the King’s several-hour visit as “a progressive and positive step towards strengthening relations between the two countries and a prelude to better Iraqi ties with the rest of the Arab countries”.

Abdul Mahdi said Iraq is keen on bolstering its relations with its Arab neighbourhood, a matter that would help boost joint Arab action.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said in a television interview following the King’s visit: “The King of Jordan took a bold step when he visited Iraq today. We expect other Arab countries to move in this direction.”