Safadi, EU ambassadors meet over ties, review regional, int'l developments

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Tuesday met with EU Ambassador to Jordan Maria Hadjitheodosiou and the ambassadors of EU countries in the Kingdom over strategies to enhance bilateral cooperation.

Discussions during the meeting also addressed the latest regional and international developments, mainly those pertaining to the Palestinian cause, according to a Foreign Ministry statement to The Jordan Times.

Safadi referred to the “solid and deep-rooted” ties between Jordan and the EU, highlighting the importance of enhancing them in all fields.

The minister acquainted the diplomats with the outcomes of His Majesty King Abdullah’s recent meetings, starting from the “important and successful” visit to the US, the Baghdad Conference for Cooperation and Partnership, the trilateral Jordanian-Egyptian-Iraqi summit in Baghdad, and the Jordanian-Egyptian-Palestinian summit in Cairo.   

He also reviewed the regional and international developments, mainly those pertaining to the Palestinian issue and efforts aimed to reach “a real political will” that guarantees resuming serious and effective negotiations to realise a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, international law and relevant international legitimacy resolutions. 

In this regard, Safadi stressed the importance of sustaining support to UNRWA and holding the international conference to support UNRWA in November. 

The deputy prime minister praised the EU stance committed to the two-state solution and supporting international efforts to reach a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution. He expressed appreciation for the EU and its countries for their continuous assistance to UNRWA to ensure the sustainability of providing services to Palestinian refugees. 

He also stressed the importance of maintaining de-escalation in the occupied Palestinian territories and stopping all colonial activities and confiscating lands, and respecting the legal and historical status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites, mainly Al Aqsa Mosque/Al Haram Al Sharif.

The minister also went over the Syrian crisis and the significance of finding a political solution. He highlighted the importance of enhancing stability in Iraq and joining efforts to preserve the security and stability of Lebanon. 

Meanwhile, EU ambassadors stressed the significance of partnership between the Kingdom and EU and Jordan’s important role in the region, calling for more action to further enhance ties in various fields.