House speaker, German delegation discuss parliamentary ties

AMMAN — Lower House Speaker Ahmad Safadi on Wednesday stressed the "deep-rooted" relations between Jordan and Germany in all fields, mainly at the parliamentary level, and the need to boost ties in various fields to serve the interests of the two countries.

Safadi made the remarks during a meeting with a German delegation representing the Committee on State Budget and Financial Affairs of the Bavarian State Parliament, headed by MP Josef Zellmeier, in the presence of German Ambassador to Jordan Bernhard Kampmann, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Safadi expressed appreciation for the positions of the German government and parliament in support of the Palestinian issue and their support to the Syrian refugees in the Kingdom, referring to Jordan's burdens and efforts due to the repercussions of the situation in the Middle East region, especially the arrivals of refugees.

He also reviewed the modernisation of the Kingdom's political, economic and administrative system, referring to the constitutional amendments and reform laws adopted to support the overall modernisation pathways.

Safadi stressed the centrality of the Palestinian issue, reiterating that the lack of a just solution and the Palestinians' right to establish their own independent state is a major reason for instability in the region.

For his part, Zellmeier said that his country, along with the EU, praises the Jordanian role in the region, which creates a balance and stability factor, commending the Kingdom's reforms and its efforts in hosting refugees despite challenges facing the economy and scarce resources.

Meanwhile, Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Wajih Azaizeh met the German parliamentary delegation over means to increase cooperation in fields related to political and partisan life.

Azaizeh said that Jordan is moving ahead “steadily on track” to achieve the three modernisation paths at the political, economic and administrative levels, reviewing the role of the ministry in raising awareness of young people and women about the importance of participating in political life.

For their part, the delegates praised the efforts of the Kingdom in reaching an effective democracy, noting that Jordan and Germany have already embarked on cooperation related to democracy.