King Meets U.S. Congress Delegation

06 January 2004
Amman , Jordan

His Majesty King Abdullah II on Tuesday stressed the necessity to preserve Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity. " Building a united, independent and free Iraq is an objective that should be pursued by all," the King said during a meeting on with a U.S. Congress delegation at Bait Al Barakah in presence of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah.

King Abdullah warned against the possibility of Iraq becoming a scene for terrorist groups.

During the meeting, which was attended by Royal Court Minister Samir Rifai and U.S. Ambassador to Jordan Edward Gnehm, King Abdullah called for accelerating measures to give the Iraqis the power to run their own affairs and choose the type of government they aspire for.

Referring to the situation in the Palestinian areas, the warned against Israel's building of the separation wall in the occupied West Bank. The wall endangers security in the region and threatens future of the Middle East peace process, said King Abdullah, who thanked the U.S.

Congress for approving U.S. 2004 economic aid to Jordan. Members of the delegation highly appreciated King Abdullah's leadership and paid tribute to the secure and stable situation in the Kingdom which has become a model in the region.

The delegation groups Christopher Shays (R- Connecticut), Dennis Moore (D-Kansas), Jim Greenwod (R-Pennsylvania), Henry Brown (South Carolina), Robert Anderws (D-New Jersey), and Trent Franks (R-Arizona).