In addition to bilateral and regional issues, the talks at the Vienna Hofburg also focused on combating the climate crisis. According to a broadcast after the meeting, Van der Bellen praised Jordan as an important partner and “anchor of stability in the Middle East”.
After the conversation with Van der Bellen, King Abdullah also met with Federal Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg (ÖVP). “Jordan is an important friend and partner in a volatile region,” tweeted Schallenberg after the conversation. In general, the Chancellor wrote of a “good meeting”.
“A Generous Kingdom”
“As a desert state, Jordan is particularly hard hit by the climate crisis. Water scarcity is a big issue,” said Van der Bellen. The conversation between the two heads of state about the climate crisis took place in advance of King Abdullah II’s participation in the UN climate conference COP26 in Glasgow next week.
Van der Bellen also pointed out that Jordan is home to around 700,000 Syrian refugees. “The kingdom has always shown itself to be very generous towards those seeking protection,” said the Federal President, who expressed his respect for King Abdullah II.
Objective: to stimulate tourism again
As in Austria, tourism also plays an important economic role in Jordan. The increased resumption of direct flight connections Vienna-Amman after the pandemic should stimulate tourism in both countries again. “Likewise, in the areas of culture and science, the close bilateral cooperation – especially in archeology – has to be further promoted. King Abdullah feels particularly close to Austria. He emphasized this several times in our conversation,” the Federal President continued .
Jordan celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen paid an official visit to Jordan in 2018, and according to the presidential chancellery, another meeting with King Abdullah took place in New York in the same year.
The Jordanian king recently hit the headlines through the so-called “Pandora Papers”. He is believed to have used 30 tax haven offshore firms to buy 14 luxury properties in the US and UK. The royal family in Amman stated that it was only about the monarch’s private assets.
