His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday met with Iraqi parliamentarian Mahdi Hafez, who is also a former planning minister.

The King reiterated Jordan's keenness on the success of the ongoing political process in Iraq and support for efforts to achieve national harmony there.

King Abdullah also referred to his recent talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Maliki during which they agreed on Jordan's initiative to hold a reconciliation conference in Amman for Iraq's religious leaders.

Hafez stressed that Iraq needs support from Jordan and other Arab countries at this crucial stage, thanking the King for the initiative to host the religious leaders' meeting.

Also Thursday, King Abdullah received Kuwaiti MP Mubarak Khreinej, honorary president of the Council for Kuwaiti Students in Jordan.

The King said Jordan is keen on facilitating the study and stay of the 3,000 Kuwaiti higher edcuation students in the country.

Meanwhile, King Abdullah on Thursday highlighted the important role Americans of Jordanian origin can play in uniting viewpoints of the East and the West, and building bridges of understanding.

He made his remarks as he met Sandy Annabi, a member of the Yonkers City Council in New York where she chairs the education committee.

Annabi is working on a programme to provide scholarships to students of Middle Eastern origin, especially Jordanians, and has contributed to the establishment of the first Islamic school in the city.

The Jordan Times