Iraqi leader in Jordan for talks

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraq's prime minister sat down with Jordanian leaders on Thursday, the first day of his two-day trip to the neighboring Sunni Arab nation, which buys oil from Iraq and hosts hundreds of thousands of Iraqi refugees.

Along with the oil and refugee issues, improved diplomatic relations and security matters are among the topics on the agenda as Nuri al-Maliki meets with King Abdullah II and Jordanian Prime Minister Nader al-Thahabi.

"Al-Maliki expressed his appreciation of the king's positions in support of Iraq, its people and the elected government, and his aspiration to establish the best relations in the economic and trade fields in what will serve the best interests of the two fraternal nations and peoples," al-Maliki's office said.

The office said King Abdullah "stressed his support for the political process in Iraq and the government's efforts to extend the authority of the law and achieving security and stability, in addition to Jordan's readiness to help Iraq in the process of rebuilding and reconstruction."

Al-Maliki and a larger delegation of Iraqis and Jordanians were to meet on Thursday night "to discuss issues of common interests and to increase cooperation in the areas of security, economy and trade, in addition to examine the issue of Iraqis residing in the kingdom."

The trip follows al-Maliki's three-day visit to Iran last week and a recent trip to Jordan by Tariq al-Hashimi, Iraq's Sunni vice president.

The meeting comes as the United States has been urging Sunni Arab neighbors to forge closer relations with Iraq. Jordan recently said it would soon dispatch an ambassador to Iraq. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are in the process of selecting ambassadors.

Jordan, which has a diplomatic mission in Iraq run by a charge d'affaires, appointed an ambassador a couple of years ago, but security problems kept him from assuming his duties. Security concerns also prompted Jordan to shut down its embassy established before the Iraq war. A car bombing at the embassy in August 2003 killed at least 16 people.

Both countries are working to develop greater business ties.

On Wednesday, the Jordan Chamber of Commerce and Jordan Chamber of Industry signed a cooperation protocol with the Federation of Iraqi Chambers of Commerce and Industry to establish a Jordanian-Iraqi Business Council.

The influx of Iraqis fleeing violence during the war has placed a strain on public services in Jordan, now hosting what the United Nations estimates are 750,000 refugees.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees has been working to help ease the burdens the refugee crisis has placed on Jordan, neighboring Syria and other countries.

The agency has been providing health assistance, educational support and resettlement programs to the refugees.

The Iraqi Cabinet this week approved $8 million in aid for Iraqi refugees in Jordan. The funds will be administered by a non-governmental organization.

Jordan has imposed stiff visa requirements for Iraqis traveling there, and Iraq is working on efforts to facilitate the entry of some of its nationals to Jordan. Also, there are tough restrictions for non-Iraqi Arabs entering Iraq.

There are no pressing border security issues between the countries, which share a remote desert border along northeastern Jordan and western Iraq's Anbar province.

But Jordan has helped Iraq with security. It has provided intelligence to Iraq and the coalition in their effort to fight insurgents and hunt down Jordanian native Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the former head of al Qaeda in Iraq. Al-Zarqawi was killed two years ago by U.S. forces.

Also, the coalition runs an Iraqi police training program in Jordan.

CNN's Jomana Karadsheh contributed to this report

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