King Abdullah II of Jordan voiced appreciation of the UNESCO's role in enhancing peace and development, protecting the world's cultural and natural heritage as well as empowering women. At a meeting with Director General of the UNESO Irina Bokova, King Abdullah II stressed his keenness to forge closer cooperation between Jordan and the UN agency in various fields, Jordan News Agency (Petra) reported. Talks during the meeting also dealt with Israeli practices and unilateral actions in the occupied Palestinian lands, mainly at the holy places. The King and Bokova stressed the need to activate rules of the international and humanitarian law on protecting cultural heritage of Jerusalem. King Abdullah II told the UNESCO Director General that Jordan was doing its utmost to protect the holy shrines in Jerusalem in line with its historical role in preserving and protecting these places, highlighting the importance of Jerusalem for followers of the three monotheistic religions. He said Israel should abide by international law and enable Jordan to preserve the old city of Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque and carry our maintenance work at the Bab Al Maghareba Gate, El-Marwani mosque as well as walls of Al Haram Al Sharif in Jerusalem. King Abdullah II voiced his deep concern over the continued Israeli secret and public excavation work around Al Aqsa Mosque.
