Official visit of President Serzh Sargsyan to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

President Serzh Sargsyan today arrived in Jordan on an official visit at the invitation of King Abdullah II ibn al-Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
President Serzh Sargsyan and King Abdullah II of Jordan held a private meeting at the Royal Palace.

President Serzh Sargsyan thanked for the warm hospitality extended to the Armenian delegation during its visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The Armenian President and the Jordanian King touched upon prospects of developing relations between the two countries and enlarging mutually beneficial cooperation in a sincere and friendly atmosphere. The interlocutors committed themselves to conducting political dialogue and elevating cooperation in various spheres to a qualitatively new level. At the meeting the parties touched upon deepening economic cooperation, using its full potential and reaffirmed that the two countries’ relationship is based on goodwill, mutual respect and mutual trust, as well as on the historical relationship of the two peoples.

Following the private conversation of President Serzh Sargsyan and King Abdullah II, a signing ceremony of documents aimed at enhancing and strengthening Armenian-Jordanian cooperation in a number of spheres took place with the participation of the two countries’ official delegations. Particularly, the Agreement for Cooperation in Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Agreement for Elimination of Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic Passports between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Healthcare and Medical Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Agreement on Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investments between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Economic Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Agreement on Tourism Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,

The Agricultural Cooperation Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Sister City Agreement between the Republic of Armenia’s Yerevan City and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s Amman City, the Cooperation Agreement between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Armenia, the Jordan Chamber of Commerce and the Jordan Chamber of Industry, the Agreement on Establishment of the Armenian-Jordan Business Council between the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Armenia, the Jordan Chamber of Commerce and the Jordan Chamber of Industry and the Memorandum of Mutual Understanding between the Yerevan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (the Republic of Armenia), the Amman Chamber of Commerce and the Amman Chamber of Industry (the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan) were concluded.
King Abdullah II of Jordan hosted a working dinner in honor of President Serzh Sargsyan having arrived in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on an official visit.
According to protocol, the Armenian President and the Jordanian King exchanged toasts, touched upon the Armenian-Jordanian friendship and the two friendly peoples’ historical connections, the present level of interstate relations and their development prospects.

On behalf of all Jordanians and on his own behalf, King Abdullah II of Jordan welcomed the visit of the Armenian President and his delegation to Jordan. He underscored that Jordan is proud of its unique relationship with Armenia. According to the Jordanian King, the two countries and friendly peoples have been bound by very close ties. In that context, he mentioned his father’s and grandfather’s warm attitude toward Armenians and the assistance rendered to the Armenian people. The King stressed that nothing symbolizes the Armenian-Jordanian friendship better than the opening of an Armenian church on the bank of the Jordan River tomorrow. The Jordanian King noted that President Serzh Sargsyan’s visit opens up a new chapter in Armenian-Jordanian bilateral relations and expressed the hope that his visit will further strengthen interstate relations and friendship between the two peoples.

President Serzh Sargsyan underlined once again that the friendship of the Armenian and the Arab peoples dated back centuries which had especially been manifested during the tragic period of the Armenian Genocide committed in the Ottoman Empire. The President expressed his gratitude to the Arab people who had been among the first to give shelter to a considerable part of Armenians escaped from the genocide, becoming one of our greatest friends in the times of misfortune. In that regard, the President stressed the role of the leader of the Arab Revolt Emir Hussein bin Ali whose name has been immortalized in our history and read Hussein bin Ali’s message to his sons, Emir Faisal and Emir Abdullah, in which he says: “Do your best to support the Armenian refugees, protect them the way you would protect yourselves, your children and property.” According to the Armenian President, that message spread, saving the lives of thousand Armenians.

Serzh Sargsyan presented one more episode of the Armenian and Arab friendship when the father of Abdullah II ibn al-Hussein, learning about the devastating earthquake of 1988 from His Majesty, rapidly sent aid to Armenia. President Serzh Sargsyan underlined that those moments today give the parties confidence to strengthen interstate relations.

In his speech the RA President attached great importance to philanthropy, religious tolerance and solidarity which, according to him, are universal values. In that respect, the President quoted the words of King Hussein I of Jordan of blessed memory: “Regardless of all cases and figures who have threatened or have even tried to hinder it, the Christian-Islamic symbiosis and tolerance have managed to survive . . . That cultural crossing has greatly stimulated mankind’s progress in the spheres of philosophy, literature, science and arts and has played a major role later in the Emergence of Renaissance.

The Armenian President and the Jordanian King also exchanged views on international developments, particularly the situation in the Middle East and the South Caucasus. They expressed their concern over extremism and all its manifestations and attached great value to combining the efforts of all parties concerned to respond to those challenges.
During his visit, the Armenian President also held meetings with Jordanian Prime Minister Abdallah Ensour, the President of the Senate Abdelraouf al-Rawabdeh and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Atef Tarawneh.

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As part of his official visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, President Serzh Sargsyan today held a meeting with Jordanian Prime Minister Abdallah Ensour.
Aside from promoting political dialogue between Armenia and Jordan, the interlocutors attached great importance to active economic cooperation considering the current level of great potential. The Armenian President and the Jordanian Prime Minister stressed the need to expand the legal base of their collaboration and in that regard, welcomed the fact of concluding more than one dozen documents that day with the participation of the two countries’ heads, as well as the mutual commitment to encouraging business ties between the two countries. The President noted that the social-economic reforms implemented by Prime Minister Abdallah Ensour’s cabinet are visible and bear witness to the wisdom, rich experience and effectiveness of the prime minister’s management.

In Serzh Sargsyan’s opinion, the Jordanian economy is open and attractive for any country’s businessmen, and there is also a favorable investment climate in Armenia. The Armenian President considered the positive change in mutual trade gratifying. President Serzh Sargsyan and Jordanian Prime Minister Abdallah Ensour agreed that there is a need to intensify cooperation in, inter alia, the spheres of tourism, energy, agriculture and health which can be greatly stimulated through opening direct flights between the two counties.

The interlocutors emphasized that resolution of conflicts in the Middle Eastern and South Caucasian regions and establishment of peace and stability are the key to promoting economic collaboration.

Prime Minister Abdallah Ensour praised the Armenian people, underlining that despite the small number, they are very strong and steadfast and have made a major contribution to world civilizations. In his speech the Jordan Prime Minster attached great weight to religious tolerance and stressed that both Islam and Christianity preach peaceful co-existence free of blood-shed and barbarity.
President Serzh Sargsyan presented Armenia’s example of promoting superb relations with neighboring Iran and numerous Arab countries which have given a helping hand to Armenians in periods of difficulty and continue to show a warm and sincere attitude towards Armenian communities living in those countries. According to the President, people who preach religious intolerance cannot achieve success.

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President Serzh Sargsyan who has made an official visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan today held meetings with the President of the Senate Abdelraouf al-Rawabdeh and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Atef Tarawneh.
The role of Armenian-Jordanian inter-parliamentary ties in boosting relations between the two states and setting a broad agenda for cooperation was stressed. The interlocutors expressed regret over the fact that relations between the legislatures have yet not reached the desired level. The Armenian President’s official visit was considered a good opportunity to discuss possibilities and prospects of promoting cooperation between the parliaments. On behalf of Armenia, President Serzh Sargsyan expressed readiness to take active steps to intensify inter-parliamentary ties and placed great importance on reciprocal visits of various parliamentary delegations and establishment of inter-parliamentary friendship groups.

Serzh Sargsyan also visited the National Museum of Jordan in Amman, familiarized with exhibits representing the country’s age-old history and made a note in the book of honorary guests at the end of the tour. “I am truly convinced that I have visited one of the most ancient countries of the world the striking illustration of which is the history of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan represented in this majestic museum. Your country presents itself with honor and pride demonstrating its wonderful culture and age-old history under the roof of this marvelous building. In fact, it is full of exhibits of tolerance and dialogue between various civilizations. I would like to thank Jordanian authorities and Jordanians for giving me the opportunity to visit this museum,” wrote President Serzh Sargsyan.

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As part of his official visit to Jordan, President Serzh Sargsyan was hosted in the Municipality of Amman City today. Welcoming the Armenian President, the mayor of Yerevan and the other members of the presidential delegation, Amman Mayor Aqel Biltaji touched upon the historical connections and friendship of the Armenian and Arab peoples, mentioning a number of individuals having played a major role in strengthening friendship between the two peoples. Mayor Biltaji praised the Armenian people, underscoring that Armenians present themselves as skillful and qualified specialists in various spheres, including science, medicine, arts etc. He expressed satisfaction with the fact that besides members of municipality staff, some respected and reputable Armenian workers were also present at the meeting organized on the occasion of the Armenian President’s visit. “This is Jordan which receives its sisters and brothers, refugees and the needy with open arms and is pleased to satisfy their security requirements and provide living conditions for their families,” said the mayor of Amman and underlined that Islam whose mission is to preach love, mercy and peace does not accept hatred, blood-shed and antipathy.

Aqel Biltaji considered it a great honor to host the President of the friendly country of Armenia in the municipality and on behalf of the 3,5 million Amman residents, handed the Key to Amman city to President Serzh Sargsyan which, according to him, symbolizes the eternal friendship of the sister cities of Yerevan and Amman.
The President thanked Mayor Biltaji for the warm welcome and expressed satisfaction with the high-level Armenian-Jordanian negotiations conducted during his official visit, stressing that in the person of King Abdullah II of Jordan, he had met quite a broad-minded political figure and that he was really happy for the age-old friendship of Armenia and Jordan. At the Municipality of Amman Serzh Sargsyan thanked the friendly Arab people for saving the lives of hundreds of thousand Armenians subjected to genocide and for giving them shelter. According to the President, Armenians have returned the favor by showing their deep respect and gratitude, putting all their energy into developing that country, and he was glad to hear about it from the respected mayor of Amman as well. “Today I am very glad that Yerevan and Amman have become sister cities. We will be pleased to host the delegation of the mayor of Amman in the capital city of Yerevan,” said President Serzh Sargsyan.

This evening the Armenian President also held a meeting with representatives of the Armenian community in Jordan.