King Abdullah confers with Hariri

Jordanian King Abdullah Bin Hussein met on Wednesday in Amman with former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who is making a private visit to Jordan.

A Jordanian official downplayed the "political indications of the visit." He added that his country has received several Lebanese and non-Lebanese relations with Jordan (Hariri's wife has Jordanian identity), adding that Hariri is a businessman who is widely respected in Jordan.

On May 29, Lebanese President Emile Lahoud visited Amman in a first visit for the Lebanese president since 1987. The improvement in the Lebanese - Jordanian relations came as an extension of the improvement of Jordanian - Syrian relations, relations which have been great accelerated since President al-Assad's visit to Jordan in February to offer condolences on the death of the late Jordanian King Hussein.

Meanwhile, sources close to Hariri in Beirut said he held talks in Amman with King Abdullah and that talks dealt with regional conditions, current moves to resume the Middle East peace process and the possibility of resuming talks on the Syrian and Lebanese tracks.

The sources added that later the meeting was joined by the chairman of the Jordanian royal court, Abdul Karim al-Kabareti, and the king's advisors.

Hariri asserted cohesion between the Syrian and Lebanese tracks. He highlighted the role played by King Abdullah and his key and positive role in support of Arab issues, especially "amid this crucial phase." Hariri also praised the King's open spirit in his Arab and international relations.