King returns home

His King Abdullah II returned home Sunday following a state visit to Belgium, and after attending along with Her Majesty Queen Rania the graduation ceremony of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Hussein, from Georgetown University in Washington D.C.

In the Belgian capital Brussels, King Abdullah held talks with the King Philippe, in the presence of Queen Rania and Queen Matilda, that focused on further cementing the already strong bilateral ties, in addition to the latest regional and international developments.

The state visit, during which King Abdullah and Queen Rania were given a majestic reception, saw the Belgian monarch presenting the Order of Leopold to King Abdullah and to Queen Rania, whereas His Majesty honoured King Philippe with the Order of Al Hussein Bin Ali and Queen Mathilde with the Order of Al Nahda of the First Class. 

Also, King Abdullah and Queen Rania visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and laid a wreath at the Tomb.

In separate meetings, the King discussed bilateral relations with Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, besides ways to boost economic and investment engagement and latest developments in the Middle East and the world.

King Abdullah also delivered a speech at Belgium’s Louvain Catholic University-UCL, in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah, Belgium’s King Philippe, Queen Mathilde, academics and researchers experts in Islamic affairs and UCL students.

In his remarks, King Abdullah said: "The horrific bombings in Brussels and Paris are not part of Islam," noting that: "In the light of Islam, the perpetrators of these acts are criminals, not soldiers."

The King added: "More than a thousand years before the Geneva Conventions, Muslim soldiers were ordered not to kill a child, a woman, an old person, a priest; not to harm a church, not even to destroy a tree. I am a soldier and I will tell you, these principles hold today."

King Abdullah and Belgian King Philippe also visited Florennes Military Airbase, in Florennes.

They also visited the Port of Zeebrugge in the city of Bruges, west of Belgium, which is considered one of Europe's most important and advanced commercial ports.

It is also Europe's largest terminal for liquefied natural gas (LNG), receiving natural gas from the Troll gas field via the long Zeepipe under the North Sea. LNG is also delivered in specialized gas tankers from various origins, like Africa, Australia or the Middle East.

Upon arrival at the port, His Majesty was received by senior officials of Fluxys Belgium, the owner of the LNG terminal at the port, Zeebrugge governor and a number of local officials.

The King was briefed on Fluxys Belgium's services related to natural gas, as one of Europe's most important companies in the energy sector, as it has nearly 18 entry points for gas into the port, which opens doors to the flow of this vital commodity to Belgium from various European gas-producing countries.

Fluxys Belgium operates transport, infrastructure and storage networks related to natural gas in Europe. Its main activities include providing services for trading and transporting gas, which also include transporting system communications, gas storage services and gas transferring services.

King Abdullah was also briefed on methods of liquefied gas supply through modern and safe technology.

Also, officials at the offshore wind power briefed the King about the mechanism of generating and storing electrical energy from wind power at the port.

King Abdullah and Queen Rania visited the city of Bruges, where they were welcomed by mayor Renaat Landuyt and his wife.

Their Majesties also visited the governor of West Flanders province, Carl Decaluwe, in the presence of King Philip and Queen Mathilde.

His Majesty was accompanied on his visit by the prime minister, the Senate president, the Lower House speaker, the Royal Court chief, the foreign minister, the director of the King's office, the minister of planning and Jordan's ambassador to Belgium.

Source: Petra