AMBASSADOR JOSE P. DEL ROSARIO JR. HAS FINAL AUDIENCE
WITH KING ABDULLAH II OF THE HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN

30 January 2008 – Ambassador Jose P. Del Rosario, Jr. called on His Majesty King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan at the monarch’s official residence on 22 January to bid farewell after his two-year stint as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Philippines to Jordan.

The King thanked Ambassador Del Rosario for the work he did in ensuring the continued good relations between Jordan and the Philippines.  In return, Ambassador Del Rosario expressed gratitude to King Abdullah II, on behalf of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the Filipino people, for his compassion in twice granting clemency to OFWs facing administrative charges for immigration violations.  The King graciously acceded to Ambassador Rosario's final request to look into the matter of thirty (30) Filipino women presently detained by Jordanian authorities to determine if they could be granted clemency so that their repatriation to the Philippines could be expedited by the Embassy.

Ambassador Del Rosario also requested King Abdullah to look into reinstating the stipends of at least 35 Filipino Muslim students at the Muta'h University in Karak.  According to the Filipino Muslim students, they used to receive stipends from the Higher Education Department of Jordan, but this was discontinued some time in 2003.  Upon hearing of this from Ambassador Del Rosario, King Abdullah II issued instructions to his aide to review the matter.

Ambassador Del Rosario also reminded the King of the shared interest that the Philippines and Jordan have in promoting inter-faith dialogue and suggested that both countries explore avenues for bilateral cooperation to generate broader support for international initiatives in this area.

In closing, the King expressed the hope that Ambassador Del Rosario's successor would work to further strengthen the good relations between Jordan and the Philippines and to ensure that the relationship cover more areas of cooperation.  Ambassador Del Rosario reassured King Abdullah II that Ambassador Julius D. Torres, who will replace him as Philippine Ambassador to Jordan, is eminently qualified and would certainly spare no effort to promote a stronger partnership between the Philippines and Jordan. END

/wingret