King, UK top diplomat discuss donor conference

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday stressed the importance of the donors' conference to be held in London at the end of this week in helping Jordan deal with the repercussions of the Syrian refugee influx.

During a meeting with UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, His Majesty said the conference would also be an important opportunity to support development and economic projects in several sectors in the Kingdom as it faces challenges resulting from the refugee crisis, according to a Royal Court statement.

At the meeting, held at Al Husseiniya Palace, King Abdullah voiced appreciation for the UK's support to Jordan, especially in relation to the refugee crisis.

The meeting also addressed the latest regional and international developments, at the top of which were the Syrian crisis and the need to intensify efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution to the five-year-old conflict, the statement added.

The Monarch and the British official also discussed efforts to combat terrorism and its organisations in the Middle East, Africa and the entire world through a holistic approach to deal with this danger threatening the world’s peace and stability.

For his part, Hammond expressed his country’s keenness to help Jordan bear the repercussions of the Syrian refugee influx, stressing that the donor conference is a good opportunity to help the Kingdom in this regard, according to the statement.

Royal Court Chief Fayez Tarawneh, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, King’s Office Director Jafar Hassan and British Ambassador to Jordan Edward Oakden attended the meeting.

At a joint press conference with Judeh, the UK foreign secretary said Syria peace negotiations must deliver a political transition that sees Syrian President Bashar Assad step down and an end to the suffering of the Syrian people.

Hammond said that the UK supports the Syrian opposition’s decision to join peace talks.

“We support this process,” said Hammond, adding: “I want to acknowledge and welcome the difficult decision the Syrian higher negotiation committee has made to attend the peace talks hosted by UN special envoy [Staffan de Mistura],” Hammond said.

He added that it was a difficult decision for them because of the [attrition] that their “affiliated opposition groups are facing from the regime and increasingly from Russian bombardment in Syria”.

Meanwhile, Judeh said “we must follow and support it [negotiation]”, noting that this is the only way out to end Syria’s brutal five-year conflict.

He also stressed that the Kingdom has always backed a political solution to the conflict in neighbouring Syria.

The visit of the UK foreign secretary comes ahead of the London conference that is slated for Thursday and co-hosted by Kuwait, Germany, Norway and the United Nations, to intensify the international spotlight on the needs of those affected by the Syria crisis.

Participants representing over 70 countries, international organisations, NGOs, civil society and the private sector will meet to raise further humanitarian and development funding, and address the longer-term needs of those affected.

“We hope any future plan to assist Jordan should not be based on emergency,” said Judeh at the press conference, adding that time is now for the international community to shoulder the burden with Jordan, which hosts some 1.26 million Syrian refugees.

For his part, Hammond noted that in addition to the London conference, there will be a counter-Daesh meeting then another for the International Syria Support Group in Munich. 

“So we are working together [with Jordan] on these challenges, the crisis in Syria and the challenge of fighting Daesh,” the visiting minister said.

He added that his country and Jordan share deep, long-standing ties and are at the frontline of the fight against Daesh.

“The UK will stand shoulder to shoulder with Jordan in this effort, and bilateral relations are stronger today than they have ever been… we will remain close partners in ensuring Jordan’s security in the face of these challenges.”

He also reiterated the UK’s commitment to supporting Jordan both politically and financially, as the Kingdom along with Lebanon and Turkey, has borne the impact of the refugee crisis.

“The influx of the refugees stretched Jordan’s resources, economy, services. The international community recognises that and is already providing support to Jordan.”

However, he noted that due to the nature of the Syrian crisis, and since refugees are not expected to return any time soon, there should be a change in the way support is extended to both refugees and host communities.

 “This protracted nature means a new approach is necessary,” Hammond stressed.

He added that his country has been working very closely with Jordan to develop a plan to provide transformational financial support to Jordanians and refugees together.

“We think we need to make a step of change now from the traditional model of asking for support towards a more engaged working with the host communities… making sure their economies can grow and expand and utilise the opportunity that the refugees bring.”

The programme he referred to will be through opening new investments, and “we will be encouraging the international community to make significant financial pledges”.