August 12, 2008	Tuesday	Sha'aban 9, 1429

BAGHDAD, Aug 11: Jordan’s King Abdullah II held talks with Iraqi leaders on Monday on the first visit to Iraq by an Arab head of state since the 2003 US-led invasion and fall of Saddam Hussein.

The monarch went immediately on arrival in the Iraqi capital into talks with Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki before meeting Vice President Adel Abdel Mahdi, officials said.

Discussions focused on means “to improve bilateral relations in all fields” nd were “frank and positive,” a foreign ministry statement said.

Maliki’s hailed the ties between the neighbours.

“This visit will open a new page in relations between the two countries which will help to maintain the stability and security in Iraq and all the region,” Maliki said.

Highlighting his government’s progress with eradicating “terrorists and outlaws,” Maliki vowed to press ahead with the necessary reconstruction of his war-ravaged country.

For his part King Abdullah said he “renewed his support to the Iraqi government and his support for the efforts to spread security, stability and reconstruction ...

“All Arab countries should support Iraq,” he said.

“Iraqi and Jordanian officials should exchange visits after this trip to discuss mechanisms for boosting bilateral relations in various fields and serve the interests of Jordan and Iraq,” the king said in talks with Abdel Mahdi.

Talks also included trade and ways to encourage the economic ties including the private sectors of both countries and Iraq’s oil supplies to Jordan.

King Abdullah and his delegation, including Prime Minister Nader Dahabi, had been expected to travel to Iraq last month but the trip was delayed for what diplomatic sources in Amman had said were security concerns.

His visit was agreed during a visit to Amman by Maliki in June to renew a 2006 deal to sell discounted oil to its neighbour, which relies on Iraq for most of its fuel needs.

In the wake of that visit, Amman announced that it had appointed an ambassador to Baghdad where its embassy has been run by a charge d’affaires since it came under deadly attack in 2003.

Jordan kept its embassy in Baghdad open even after the mission was attacked, but it downgraded the level of its representation amid serious concerns as the level of insurgent violence began to spike.

The king’s visit is seen as a step forward for Baghdad which is working to rebuild relations with its neighbours in the wake of the US-led invasion that ousted Saddam.

Washington has been pushing its Arab allies, notably regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia, to send ambassadors and high-level officials to Baghdad.

King Abdullah in 2004 warned against the emergence in Iraq of a pro-Iranian government.—AFP