D'Alema visits Amman and Damascus

Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema arrived on Monday in Amman in an official visit which will last for two days, during which he will hold talks on backing economic cooperation between the two countries and the latest developments concerning the Middle East peace process.

Mass media in the Jordanian capital, Amman, said that D'Alema will meet with his Jordanian counterpart, Abdul Raouf al-Rawabdeh, and will be received by the Jordanian King Abdullah II.

The Jordanian media added that the issue of alleviating the Italian debts that Jordan has to pay, estimated at US $118 million, is expected to be on top of these talks.

Italian Minister of Foreign Trade Pierro Fassino indicated the possibility of converting the debts owed to be paid by Jordan into investments in Jordan.

Following his visit to Amman, D'Alema will head today for Damascus, his second and last leg in his current Middle East tour.