Jordan, US discuss ties, region

AMMAN — Jordan and the US on Tuesday discussed cooperation and the latest regional developments, in addition to anti-terrorism efforts.

During separate meetings with a delegation of US congressional aides currently visiting Jordan, Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh highlighted Jordan’s stance on regional issues, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Tarawneh highlighted the Kingdom’s reform process, in addition to other issues of mutual concern.

Discussions covered the latest regional and international developments, terrorism and the consequences of the turbulence surrounding Jordan.

Tarawneh underlined the centrality of the Palestinian issue in Jordan’s foreign policy, stressing that the absence of a just solution to the long-standing Palestinian-Israeli conflict will keep the region and the world vulnerable to threats of radicalism and terrorism.

Judeh’s meeting with the US officials addressed bilateral relations and the latest regional developments, according to Petra.

He stressed that the war against terrorism is a war within Islam, which has nothing to do with the actions committed by extremists under its name, and discussed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Highlighting the repercussions of the Syrian crisis on Jordan, Judeh thanked the US for supporting the Kingdom in dealing with the refugee burden and stressed the need to reach a political solution in Syria.

He also commended Washington’s support for Jordan’s development programmes, according to Petra.

On Monday, the congressional aides visited Border Guards in the northern region and were briefed on their mission, duties and efforts to protect the border and receive Syrian refugees. 

The aides commended the advanced level of the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army.