Jordan's King Abdullah promised Thursday that his country stood "shoulder to shoulder" with the international coalition against terrorism, ahead of talks in London with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, reported AFP.
His phrase, in a speech to British members of parliament, was exactly that used by Blair two months ago to reassure the United States of British support after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, said the agency.
Abdullah, who is on a state visit to Britain, was due to meet Blair in Downing Street for talks at 12:45pm (1245 GMT) Thursday.
Military action against the prime suspect in the Sept. 11 attacks, Osama bin Laden and his Al Qaeda network, which is based in Afghanistan, should be pursued "with caution but also with unflinching resolve," he added.
He also said that for lasting peace to be established, the deadlock in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would also have to be resolved.
The anti-terror coalition was a "unique opportunity" for a comprehensive and just solution to the Middle East conflict, he said.
King Abdullah said the events of Sept. 11 "were plainly and simply an affront to all humanity. That is the view of the too rarely-heard Arab majority.
"Let me speak for my people, as a human being, as a father, as a Jordanian and most of all as a Muslim - what happened on that day was evil.
"As a civilized nation, Jordan stands shoulder to shoulder with the world community in this fight."
Jordan and Britain’s links date back to 80 years, the time of Jordan’s foundation.
According to the BBC Online, while diplomatic relations between Jordan and the UK remain robust, King Abdullah will be hoping his high-profile trip to London will help tempt normal Britons to pay a return visit as tourists.
Tourism across the Middle East has suffered over the past 14 months because of the unrest in neighboring Israel and the occcupied Palestinian territories, and the crisis deepened after Sept. 11 – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
