Jerusalem, UNRWA top FM’s agenda in Davos

AMMAN — Developments in the Palestinian issue following the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and UNRWA's financial burdens topped the discussions of Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi's meetings with counterparts on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos.

Safadi's meetings with foreign ministers of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis, Netherlands Halbe Zijlstra, Finland Timo Soini and Norway Ine Marie Eriksen Soreide focused on efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis and the latest regional developments, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Friday.

Talks also covered means to enhance bilateral cooperation in the economic, trade, investment and defence fields.

The ministers reviewed efforts to end the political stalemate in the Mideast peace process through effective endeavours to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on the two-state solution that guarantees the establishment of a Palestinian state within the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, according to relevant international agreements.

In this regard, Safadi warned against the consequences of the absence of a comprehensive solution that meets the legitimate rights of Palestinians in achieving freedom and establishing their state.

He stressed that failure to reach such a solution would contribute to instilling despair that feeds extremism and violence, threatening the security and stability of the entire region.

The foreign minister also highlighted the importance of joint work to take practical steps that contribute to addressing the UNRWA budget deficit and enabling it to continue presenting vital services to Palestinian refugees.

Safadi acquainted his counterparts with the Jordanian and Arab stances that refuse the US decision, stressing that the decision violates international laws that stipulate that Jerusalem is a final status issue whose fate must be determined in direct negotiations under international legitimacy resolutions. 

The minister also met with Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP) David Beasley and UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock, to whom he stressed the importance for international organisations to help in bearing the repercussions of the Syrian refugee influx. 

Safadi commended the important role of the WFP in the Kingdom, praising the high level of cooperation and coordination between Jordan and the UN in meeting the refugees' needs.

Beasley and Lowcock expressed appreciation for the Kingdom's humanitarian role in shouldering the refugee influx burdens.

Lowcock voiced gratitude for Jordan's approval to deliver aid to the Rukban refugee camp inside Syria, as Safadi announced that the Kingdom allowed delivering assistance to the camp for one time after the UN presented a convincing plan to deliver future aid from within the Syrian territories. 

Rukban is a Syrian and international problem rather than a Jordanian responsibility, and aid has to be delivered from within Syria in light of the field possibility of doing so, the minister said.