The President of the Republic of Slovenia and the King of Jordan discuss bilateral relations and the situation in the Middle East

Amman, 15.5.2009  |  press release

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk, made a working visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, where he attended the opening of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East. The Slovenian economic delegation accompanying President Türk will participate in a Jordan-Slovenian business forum tomorrow.

In the afternoon, the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr Danilo Türk was received by the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Abdullah II. Ibn Al Hussein, to discuss, in particular, bilateral relations and the situation in the Middle East. They examined the progress made in negotiations between the businessmen of Slovenia and Jordan, who have organised two business forums since the visit of the King of Jordan to Slovenia in April 2008. The first took place on the occasion of a visit to Jordan by a Slovenian economic delegation in November 2008 and the second is to be held in Amman tomorrow. The President of Slovenia and the King of Jordan expressed their expectations for such a mode of communication between businessmen of the two countries to continue also during the visit of the President of Jordan to Slovenia planned for the end of June 2009. Progress in economic cooperation is noticeable in particular in the area of cooperation between the Jordanian port of Aqaba and the Slovenian port of Koper and in the energy and telecommunications sectors; however, more needs to be done in future in the tourism sector.

The King of Jordan informed President Türk about his activities to speed up the Middle East peace process, which is progressing into a more active phase. The King of Jordan and President Türk agreed that, in this context, the active involvement of the European Union is needed. President Türk informed the King of Jordan about the activities of the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (ITF) for rehabilitation of disabled children suffering the consequences of the recent armed conflict in Gaza. He particularly emphasised the importance of the psychological rehabilitation of the affected children.

Dr Türk went on to attend a panel within the framework of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East, entitled "Enhancing Global, Regional and Human Security", which was dedicated to the issue of Middle East peace and its global dimensions. The Prime Minister of Egypt, the Crown Prince of Bahrain and other representatives of the countries of the region took part in the panel. In his speech, Dr Türk emphasised the importance of strengthening the political will for peace negotiations and the achievement of peace in the Middle East. In this context, he also explained the interest of the European Union actively to participate in this process. US Senator John Kerry also took part in the panel and presented the plans of US President Barack Obama's administration in this area. The other participants in the panel presented the positions of their own environments regarding the aforementioned efforts.

President Türk also met the founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, Prof Klaus Schwab and in the evening he attended the opening dinner of the World Economic Forum on the Middle East, hosted by His Majesty the King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Abdullah II. Ibn Al Hussein and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah.