Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - His Majesty King Abdullah, on Monday, said Jordan's participation in the war against terrorism, alongside Arab and foreign countries, will help in protecting the Kingdom's national interests and boosting its security in light of regional turmoil.

His Majesty vowed that Jordan will always continue to fight terrorism and extremism, regardless of its source, and those who promote it, whether in the name of religion or any other pretext.

The King told a meeting with a number of lawmakers that an all-encompassing effort is needed to address extremism by focusing on all educational and intellectual aspects and raising the public's awareness.

During the meeting which brought him together with members of the Democratic Gathering bloc, King Abdullah said Jordan's security and stability were factors above any other consideration and emphasized that citizens' awareness is the basis for protecting the supreme national interests.

He stressed the need to cement national consensus and focus on national priorities to strengthen national unity and which is the bulwark against all challenges.

Speaking about national issues, His Majesty said the economic challenges remain at the forefront and need to be addressed jointly by the public and private sector institutions in full cooperation and a spirit of partnership. He pointed out that the energy sector is putting a major pressure on the state's budget.

While making it clear that poverty and unemployment are top economic priorities, King Abdullah said tackling these problems requires a national partnership between the various sectors so that citizens' living status is enhanced through introduction of Kingdom-wide projects.

The King also spoke about pressure on the national economy and infrastructure exerted by a massive number of Syrian refugees being hosted in Jordan, especially in the central and northern regions. King Abdullah asserted that the overall reform drive is making a headway firmly and gradually and would not be allowed to be impeded under any circumstances whatsoever since it is the nation's utmost priority.

The meeting touched on various regional issues whereas His Majesty reiterated Jordan's support for all endeavors designed to bring about security and stability to the region.

*Petra