Jordan | Independence Day

Ambassador al-Homoud delivers his speech

Ambassador al-Homoud and Moroccan Ambassador HH Princess Lalla Joumala Alaoui

Lithuanian Ambassador Asta Skaisgirytė Liauškienė with the Ambassador of Portugal Joao de Vallera

Ambassador al-Homoud and Algerian Ambassador Amar Abba

Ambassador al-Homoud greets Sir Jeremy Greenstock

Ambassador al-Homoud and departing Mexican Ambassador Diego Gómez-Pickering

Ambassador al-Homoud and Nigel Evans MP

Embassy magazine editor Elizabeth Stewart, Francesca Flessati (FCO ) and Julian Evans, Director of FCO Protocol

Ambassador al-Homoud and his wife Alia greet the Ambassador of Panama Daniel Eduardo Fábrega

Cyprus High Commissioner Euripides Evriviades and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Crispin Blunt MP

Ambassador al-Homoud hands Foreign Secretary Hammond a thank you gift

During the ceremony, special awards were handed out to Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani, Founder Chairman of The Arab International Women’s Forum, Councillor Karimeh Hamarneh Foster, 1stmLieutenant in the Jordanian Arab Army and Mrs Bewley, on behalf of Dr Robert Bewley, the Director of Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa

Foreign Secretary Hammond addresses guests

A Special bond
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond vowed to strengthen the “long and deep” ties between the UK and Jordan as the Arab country celebrated its 70th year of independence and the Centenary of the Arab Revolt. “We have celebrated a close relationship that goes back all the way to the great Arab revolt when Lawrence of Arabia fought next to Prince Faisal,” he pointed out. “Ours is a partnership covering all areas of cooperation, from security to prosperity,” said Mr Hammond who went on to praise Jordan’s leadership and “extraordinary generosity” in dealing with the current refugee crises, housing 600 000 Syrians to date.
“For 150 years Jordan has been a sanctuary for everyone seeking refuge from harm,” added Ambassador Mazen al-Homoud. “Never has our door been shut in the face of those seeking a better life.”
PHOTOS: PIERRE DE VILLIERS