His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday stressed the importance of enhancing dialogue, understanding and cooperation among followers of different religions and urged that the values of tolerance, coexistence and brotherhood be spread.



During a meeting with a 38-member delegation representing the Los Angeles-based Simon Wiesenthal Center, King Abdullah said that the Amman Message, released during the Holy Month of Ramadan last November, reflects the tolerance and moderate values inherent in Islam, which rejects terrorism and extremism.



Key Islamic clergy and scholars will discuss how best to promote the principles and values enshrined in the Amman Message during the International Islamic Conference due in Amman early next month.



Delegation members voiced appreciation for His Majesty King Abdullah's campaign to realize regional peace and stability and his efforts to build bridges of cooperation among people throughout the world.



At the end of the meeting, Marvin Hier, founder and dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, presented the center's 2005 Tolerance Award to the King on behalf of the delegation, whose members hail from the United States, Canada, France and the United Kingdom.



"We are recognizing King Abdullah for being a force for peace, moderation and coexistence as well as for his consistent repudiation of terrorism and extremism," said Hier.



King Abdullah is the second Muslim leader to receive the award. The first was received by His Majesty the late King Hussein, who was given the award in 1995 when he visited the Center's Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles.