Manama: Jordan’s King Abdullah II has expressed deep concern over developments in Lebanon and called for an end to any role by Lebanese parties in the war in neighbouring Syria.

“Our heart goes out to Lebanon because it is the most affected by the Syrian crisis in light of its demographic make-up,” King Abdallah said.

“There must be awareness of the critical situation in Lebanon and the impact of the waves of refugees on its stability.

“The security and political situation in Lebanon is delicate, and Beirut is trying hard to prevent itself from being drawn into the Syrian crisis. Lebanon’s demographic composition cannot tolerate any Lebanese party to interfere in the Syrian crisis, because it will pull the entire country into this crisis and expose it to its repercussions,” the Jordanian monarch told London-based Al Hayat daily in an interview published on Saturday.

King Abdallah did not name Lebanese parties involved in the conflict in Syria, Lebanon’s neighbour to the north and to the east, but Lebanon’s Hezbollah has been openly fighting alongside Syrian regime forces against rebels.

“Out of concern for the security and stability of Lebanon, and its sovereignty and unity, we stress the need for refraining from unconstructive interference by any Lebanese party in the Syrian conflict,” King Abdallah said.

He added that his country had “consistently warned of the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on its neighbouring countries.”

“There are really worrying signs like the series of sectarian-motivated bombings and armed clashes, the bombing of a Lebanese border town and tensions between political circles as a result of the interference of certain parties in the Syrian conflict,” he said.

According to the Jordanian News Agency (Petra), the number of Syrian refugees in Jordan was last week 611,932, meaning that one in every six people in the Hashemite kingdom is a Syrian.

King Abdullah stressed the “importance of restoring security and stability to Egypt whose central role reflects positively on the region as a whole.”

“There can be no stability in the Middle East without Egypt, and anyone who claims otherwise does not know the region and its history,” he said.

“Arabs and Muslims need Egypt to be strong and effective once again, and to be able to protect all Egyptian people.”

He added that the next presidential term should be regarded comprehensively.

“It is a significant milestone for the future of Egypt, which requires strong leadership that enjoys the confidence of the majority of Egyptians and enough wisdom and ability to steer the country and its institutions to safety during this period,” he said.

“We support Egypt’s efforts to restore stability and security and to resume its role in fighting and denouncing terrorism. We also rely on Al Azhar Al Sharif to continue playing its historical role in the defence of the true image of Islam and to promote the values of moderation, solidarity and coexistence.

“It is also necessary to proceed with a democratic road map, with clear reform milestones that enjoy a majority approval in Egypt, which is vital at this critical time,” he said.

The Jordanian king who had recently a “long meeting” with Barack Obama said that the US president “was clear in his emphasis on the historical and strategic relationship between the US and its friends among Arab states, and his commitment to the security and stability of the region.”

However, he added that the US administration was in contact with Iran through the 5 +1 group, in order to address the nuclear issue.

“I sensed the seriousness and firmness of President Obama and administration officials in this regard. The US is being realistic by giving Iranians the opportunity and sufficient time to demonstrate their seriousness, goodwill and change in approach. The US administration is clear in conditioning the dialogue with Iran to a set time frame and results,” he said.