Royalty in the News » King Abdullah II

Jordanian King & Queen on Working Visit to United States

Megan M — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:27:48 +0000

Since Monday, King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan have been in Washington, DC where they have been meeting with politicians and participating in forums. This is the second working visit to the United States for Their Majesties since last year’s Arab Spring.

Click here to see more photos of the press conference

The King met with U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday and the two held a brief press conference in the Oval Office. They discussed Syria and the ongoing Mideast Peace Process.

Both leaders denounced the violence in Syria. King Abdullah was the first Arab leader to call for President Bashar al-Assad to step down, and Obama agreed that they were “continuing to see unacceptable levels of violence inside that country” and went on to say that the U.S. will “continue to consult very closely with Jordan to create the kind of international pressure and environment that encourages the current Syrian regime to step aside so a more democratic process can take place inside of Syria.”

The King was asked about the stalled peace process between Israel and the Palestinians, and he answered, “We have to keep our fingers crossed and hope that we can bring the Israelis and Palestinans out of the impasse.”

Accompanying the Jordanian King and Queen is their eldest son, Crown Prince Hussein. After his father finished meeting with President Obama, Hussein and the King met with Vice President Joe Biden and the Secretary of Defense. These meetings are likely meant to prepare the Crown Prince for his future role as King of Jordan. After all, he will be 18 years old later this year.

While her husband and son were visiting with Washington’s most powerful, Queen Rania was not sitting around. On Tuesday, she attended a United Nations Foundation luncheon at the Newseum. As a board member, Rania discussed ways to make the world better for women and for children.

Her Majesty later attended the event 10×10 – Educate Girls. Change the World.

For Wednesday, King Abdullah met with Treasurer Timothy F. Geithner and talked about the U.S. – Jordanian economic links, and the possibility of providing financial aid to the Hashemite Kingdom. Also at the meeting was Jordanian Prime Minister Awn Khasawneh.

Also that day, the King met with Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, head of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who called for Abdullah to do the following:

“Jordan has not yet appointed an ambassador to Israel in the year and a half since the previous ambassador moved on, and I would strongly encourage you to do so,” she told him.

Ros-Lehtinen also agreed with him that the Syrian President should resign.

“I share that view because Iran is certainly doing all it can to keep Syria afloat but the people are rising up,” she said.

On Thursday, King Abdullah II will address the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Sources: USA Today, The Royal Forums, Petra, AFP

King Abdullah II Marks 10 Years of Development Fund

Megan M — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 19:19:08 +0000

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On Sunday, the King of Jordan presided over the 10th anniversary of the King Abdullah Fund for Development (KAFD). The fund serves over a million people throughout the Hashemite Kingdom.

During the ceremony, King Abdullah awarded several private and public sectors and civil institutions which support the KAFD.

His Majesty also honored students from the Samma Comprehensive Girls School and the National School for Girls for their winning of a software applications development contest. The competition had girls between the ages of 15 and 17 to develop cell phone programs and applications.

The King Abdullah Fund for Development began in 2001 and was set up in order to support Jordan through human and infrastructure development.

Source: Petra

King Abdullah II Calls for Syrian President to Step Down

Megan M — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 23:09:18 +0000

In an interview with the BBC, Jordan’s King Abdullah II said that Syrian President Bashar Assad should resign. This makes the King the first Arab leader to make such a call.

Click here to see more images at Daylife.com

“If Bashar (Assad) has the interest of his country, he would step down, but he would also create an ability to reach out and start a new phase of Syrian political life,” Abdullah said.

His Majesty also added that if he were Assad, he would step down and he “would make sure whoever comes behind me has the ability to change the status quo that we’re seeing.”

Syria did not respond to the statements.

It comes days after the Arab League voted to suspend Syria because of the attacks on protesters that the United Nations believes over 3,000 have died since mid-March.

The Arab League will discuss the suspension further this Wednesday.

Source: AP, Washington Post

King Abdullah II Opens World Economic Forum

Megan M — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 23:22:22 +0000

At the shores of the Dead Sea, Jordan’s King Abdullah II opened this year’s Word Economic Forum, which is intended for the Middle East. As part of his opening speech, His Majesty talked about the need for 85 million jobs in the region, and also he highlighted the Arab Spring.

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“This year’s events have opened the way to positive change, but in many places, also created painful economic dislocations. Strategies are urgently needed, and they must take place across the board – in economic life, in politics and policies, in social life and cultural values,” he said.

“Democracy is an entry to real reform,” he went on to say. “Where people can come together as citizens and stakeholders: assembling in political parties; formulating platforms; building consensus. There is no one path forward from this gate. Solutions must and will be home grown, in each of our own countries.”

King Abdullah also discussed the need for a Palestinian statehood and the acceptance of Israel as way for peace and stability in the region.

Click here to view more photos

At the end of his speech, the King gave his condolences to Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who’s heir and brother, Crown Prince Sultan, passed away Saturday.

Watching and listening to his speech in the front row was Queen Rania and Spanish King Juan Carlos. The King of Spain is in Jordan for a few days as a guest of King Abdullah II.

This Forum was originally scheduled for February. But because of the uprisings and protests in the Middle East, it was rescheduled for October.

Sources: Reuters, Petra News Agency

King Abdullah II Replaces Prime Minister

Megan M — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 21:04:41 +0000

On Sunday, 70 members of Jordan’s Parliament demanded that King Abdullah II dismiss not only Prime Minister Maarouf al-Bakhit, but also the cabinet, for failing to implement reforms.

Click here for image gallery at Daylife.com

The King told his PM, whom he appointed back in February, to step down Monday, and now he has been replaced by Dr. Awn al-Khasawneh, a judge at the International Court of Justice. This is the third time this year that Jordan has had a new PM.

The difference between Bakhit and Khasawneh is that the new PM is respected by most Jordanians, whereas Bakhit was disliked by tribal leaders and Islamists.

Former military general Bakhit also angered the populace when he made it against the law to accuse someone of corruption. That was seen as anti-freedom of speech, something many Jordanian protesters wanted earlier this year.

Khasawneh, age 61, has worked at The Hague since 2000 and negotiated the Jordanian-Israeli peace treaty in 1994. He is expected to start right away on setting up a new cabinet.

A spokesman for retired military service members, Gen. Ali Habashneh, said, “Awn Khasawneh is known for his integrity, and has no corruption issues in his past like the rest, and more importantly, he has very high legal capabilities, which is essential now in this phase of constitutional amendments, laws and legislation which will define the future of Jordan.”

Another seat that has been changed is the Intelligence Chief. King Abdullah gave that over to Maj. Gen. Faisal al-Shobaki, a longstanding intelligence operative.

Source: NYTimes, BBC

Jordanian King Reiterates Support for Libyan National Transitional Council

Megan M — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 20:39:01 +0000

On Saturday, King Abdullah II of Jordan reiterated his country’s support for Libya’s National Transitional Council. He did so as met with Mahmoud Jibril, the head of the provisional government, as a way of strengthening the links between the two countries.

Click here for original article at Petra

The King also pledged assistance in helping Libya with medical and humanitarian aid. Jibril came to Jordan to request such help.

“The Libyan people now face the challenge of rebuilding their state and institutions, starting with the establishment of a national army, as well as the restoration of security to the country,” he said.

Jibril thanked King Abdullah in the presence of senior Jordanian officials, such as the army’s joint chiefs of staff General Mishaal al-Zaben and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh.

Jibril also said Judeh will visit Tripoli in the next few days to underline Jordan’s pledge and to find ways Libya could strengthen closer ties with Arab countries.

“Jordan is one of the most important Arab countries in terms of responding to Libyan needs and contributing to reconstruction efforts,” said Jibril

Also while in Jordan, Jibril toured Amman’s hospitals where 700 Libyans are being treated after fighting Gaddafi’s forces.

Jordan was one the first Arab countries to recognize the NTC as a representative of the Libyan people.

Source: Petra, Monster and Critics

Jordanian King Sees Arab Spring as Reform Opportunity

Megan M — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 19:19:51 +0000

As the Arab Spring continues, Jordan’s King Abdullah II is being optimistic about the protests and demands for political change. In an interview with the American radio station, NPR, the King expressed his wish for his country to reform.

Click here for recent King Abdullah II photos

“In certain countries, you’re going to see revolution after revolution, until it calms down,” he told Morning Edition co-host Steve Inskeep. “What we’re trying to do in Jordan is [to] do evolution.”

His Majesty spoke of hope that Jordan would be a model for democracy in the Middle East, and that it is looking to strengthen its middle class and allow more political participation.

“What keeps me up at night is poverty and unemployment,” the King said. ”We have, in the past 10 years, managed to establish a credible middle class. But any shifts in oil prices, economic challenges, that middle class becomes very fragile. … You really need a strong, stable middle class.”

“My job is to put food on the table for people,” King Abdullah went on. “And what I meant by that is, basically, creating a middle class, knowing full well — and looking again at the European model, the United States in particular, also — the stronger you have a middle class, the easier I think political transformation happens.”

The King also discussed during the interview with NPR of the future of the Jordanian monarchy.

“The monarchy that I hand over to my son is not going to be the same one that I have inherited,” he said. “There is a tendency by a lot of officials to hide behind the King. And it’s about time that officials take their responsibility and are responsible in front of the people. Because today, if you’re appointed by the king, they don’t feel that they’re responsible for the people. If you have a government that is elected, they need to do the hard work — because if they don’t, they won’t be around the next time the ballot box is open.”

King Abdullah mentioned that municipal elections are to be held towards the end of the year, while national elections will take place in early 2012. He also explained that there isn’t much of a democratic mindset among Jordanians, saying if someone were to ask a citizen where he or she stood on certain issues, a response would be a blank look.

Unlike Egypt, Bahrain and Tunisia, Jordan has not seen the same amount of protesting, but it is significant. The King mentioned how the end of the Arab Spring is unknown.

“No expert in the world now can predict what’s going to happen in the Middle East. Things are happening too quickly, and the area is changing so rapidly that we really don’t know.”

To hear and read more about King Abdullah II’s interview with NPR, click here.

Source: NPR

Jordanian King, Heir Visit Kuwait and Qatar

Megan M — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:43:22 +0000

On Monday, the King of Jordan set out on one-day visits to the Gulf States as a way to mark the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. King Abdullah II brought with him his son and heir, Crown Prince Hussein, as he went to Kuwait and Qatar.

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The tiny country of Kuwait was the first stop for the father and son. Arriving at Dasman Palace, the two met with the Emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmed al-Sabah. The King and the Emir then sat for talks about bilateral ties, which have strengthened since Jordan and Kuwait renewed them last year. Their ties were strained 20 years ago during the Persian Gulf war.

After the talks, the Emir hosted an iftar banquet for the King and the Crown Prince.

Abdullah, Hussein and their delegation then returned home.

The next day, King Abdullah went to Bahrain for the same reasons. But he did not bring his son with him. Instead, two of his brothers accompanied him – Prince Feisal and Prince Hashim.

For Wednesday, Crown Prince Hussein joined his father to Qatar, where Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and his son and heir, Sheikh Tamim, greeted them at Al-Wajba Palace. All four sat during the talks between His Majesty and the Emir, who discussed bilateral ties and issues concerning the Middle East.

As they did in Kuwait, King Abdullah and Crown Prince Hussein were then guests of honor for an iftar banquet given by the Emir and his son.

Right afterwards, the father and son headed back to Jordan.

Sources: The Jordan Times

King Abdullah II Invests in Star Trek Theme Park

Megan M — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 23:30:41 +0000

The King of Jordan is going to fund $1.5 billion for a Star Trek amusement park in the Hashemite Kingdom. A major Trekkie himself, King Abdullah II has teamed up with American and Mideast investors to build the theme park in the Gulf of Aqaba in southern Jordan.

Click here for more King Abdullah II images

The park will called the Red Sea Astrarium and will feature a large “space-flight adventure” ride based 2009′s “Star Trek” film remake. There’s also a chance for some non-Star Trek rides and attractions.

At the same time, there are plans to invest in the entire Aqaba area because of this project. Hotels, restaurants, theaters, and shopping centers are on the list, as well as tours that will give people a chance to learn about Jordanian history. Aqaba is described by AOL Travel as “a fairly quiet place, but it has the makings of a resort town.”

Rubicon Group Holdings is the company overseeing the development of this theme park.

His Majesty once made a non-speaking cameo appearance on Star Trek in the mid-90s, back when he was simply Prince Abdullah.

Jordan has a struggling economy and high unemployment rate. It was one of the many countries that witnessed protests during the Arab Spring.

Sources: TIME, AOL Travel

Wedding of Prince Rashid and Zeina Shaban

Megan M — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 23:41:45 +0000

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The cousin of the King of Jordan got married Friday in a ceremony attended by Arab and European royals alike. Prince Rashid Al Hassan, the son of King Abdullah II’s uncle, 31 year old Prince El Hassan, married Zeina Shabban, age 23 and a former athlete. The couple got engaged about a year ago.

The ceremony took place at Basman Palace in the presence of the King, Queen Rania, Prince El Hassan and his wife, Princess Sarvath, plus the bride’s extended family.

Royals in attendance were King Hamad of Bahrain, Queen Sofia of Spain, Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel, and the Duke of Edinburgh.

The groom’s father was once heir to the Hashemite Kingdom for decades. But in 1999, on his deathbed, Prince Hassan’s brother, King Hussein, changed the succession and gave the throne to his son, Abdullah. If King Hussein had not made that historic change. Prince Rashid would be heir to the Jordanian throne now, and Princess Zeina, the next Queen.

Source: Ammon News