King, Archbishop of Canterbury discuss regional developments

His Majesty King Abdullah II on Tuesday welcomed Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and reviewed the Kingdom’s efforts to safeguard Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, besides the latest developments in the Middle East.

The meeting, held at al-Husseiniya Palace and attended by King’s Personal Envoy and Advisor for Religious and Cultural Affairs HRH Prince Ghazi bin Mohammad, touched on the key role of Arab Christians and their contributions in the region in its past, present and future.

King Abdullah pledged that Jordan will pursue its role to protect the presence of Christian Arabs in the Middle East and preserve their identity, noting that the country is a role model for real Muslim-Christian brotherhood and harmony.

The meeting also dealt with Israel’s unilateral actions in Jerusalem, which threaten the Islamic and Christian holy sites, with the King reiterating that Jordan totally rejects any attempt to undermine the Arab identity of the holy city.

Also discussed at the meeting were other current regional issues, particularly the fight against extremism and terrorism, which is not associated with any religion.

The Archbishop of Canterbury commended Jordan’s role to highlight the true image of Islam, expressing his appreciation to His Majesty for his custody and protection of holy sites and the Christian communities in Jerusalem as part of the Kingdom’s custodianship over the city’s holy shrines.

Welby also praised the King’s efforts to bring about regional peace and stability and promote dialogue and tolerance among the followers of various religions.