Amman, Aug 29 (Petra) – Lower House Speaker Mazen Qadi and Speaker of the Greek Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis on Saturday agreed on the need to further enhance Jordanian-Greek relations in various fields and joint coordination on issues of common interest, particularly parliamentary matters.
Qadi and an accompanying delegation, on an official visit to Greece at Kaklamanis's invitation, met with his Greek counterpart in Athens to discuss prospects for closer cooperation.
He said enhancing relations will serve common interests and open wider avenues for cooperation between the two countries, noting the deep historical ties which help support peace and stability in the region.
He commended Athens' support of the Hashemite custodianship over the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, as well as its stances on the Palestinian issue and support for the rights of the Palestinian people through the two-state solution.
Qadi said Jordan, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, will remain a voice of wisdom and moderation, and a supporter of political paths to resolve various crises.
For his part, Kaklamanis stressed Greece's keen interest in closer relations with Jordan in various fields, praising the advanced level of cooperation, especially in economic and trade fields.
He pointed to Jordan's key role in promoting regional security and stability, reiterating Greece's support, through the European Union, for Jordanian efforts to bring about stability and address regional crises, particularly the Palestinian issue.
He called for preserving the historical and legal status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem, expressing the Greek Parliament's appreciation for the Hashemite custodianship over the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
At a separate meeting with Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) Head Maximos Charakopoulos, Qadi highlighted Jordan's role in promoting the values of peace and tolerance, noting the Kingdom's interest in promoting religious tourism and His Majesty King Abdullah's inauguration of the Baptism Site International Orthodox University.
Charakopoulos said Jordan is a model for peaceful coexistence in the Middle East, praising its role in promoting interfaith dialogue.
He pledged support for efforts to promote Jordan in religious tourism.
//Petra//SS
