Ties, region top Safadi’s meeting with Czech foreign minister

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Ayman Safadi on Friday held talks with Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský in Prague, which focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation as well as regional and international developments.

The two ministers voiced keenness to expand cooperation in all aspects, such in the economic, investment, tourism, medical, energy and defence fields, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

Safadi and his Czech counterpart agreed to hold the second session of the joint Jordanian-Czech committee during the first half of 2023 to boost economic cooperation, increase commercial exchange volume and utilise available opportunities between the two countries.

In a press conference following the talks, Safadi said that he had "constructive and deep discussions" with Lipavský, which built upon talks between His Majesty King Abdullah and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala on the sidelines of COP27, held in Sharm El Sheikh.

Safadi said that discussions revealed that Jordan and the Czech Republic see “eye-to-eye” on ways to resolve crises and realise peace and stability, adding that the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukrainian crisis have proven the importance of increasing joint action as the best method to address such challenges. 

The minister noted that he acquainted Lipavský with the Kingdom's economic reform programme that provides economic and investment opportunities in several vital sectors, such as renewable energy, water, agriculture and tourism.

He added that the region faces a lot of crises, and solving them is a precondition for the security and stability wanted by all.

In this regard, Safadi said that the Palestinian issue is the main and central cause for Jordan, and that the Kingdom is continuing with its efforts, in coordination with partners, to realise the just, fair and permanent peace that can lead to the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state on the pre-1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital to live in peace with Israel. 

The foreign minister also stressed the need to activate efforts to end the Syrian crisis and subsequent refugee crisis, noting that Jordan is the largest refugee-host country in the world per capita. 

He reiterated the significance of solving crises that cause migration, adding that Europe and the region should increase cooperation, especially because providing support to refugees is an international responsibility rather than the responsibility of host countries alone.

The minister noted that the ramifications of the Ukrainian crisis are reflected across the whole world, stressing the Kingdom's stance that calls for respecting the international law, the UN Charter and sovereignty of countries.

The minister added that this is an unaltered position for the Jordanian policy, especially that the region suffers from an occupation, which requires the Kingdom to adopt the same standards in dealing with the Ukrainian crisis. 

Lipavský praised the Kingdom's efforts to provide a decent life for large numbers of refugees and their families, stressing that his country support relevant development and health programmes such as MEDEVAC, which provided healthcare services to more than 300,000 Syrian refugees.

He added that the Kingdom constitutes a prosperous market for Czech companies seeking regional expansion.

Meanwhile, Safadi also met with President of the Senate of the Czech Republic Miloš Vystrčil and other members of the senate over means to enhance cooperation between the two countries, including parliamentary ties, and reviewed the latest regional developments of mutual interest.

Safadi also participated in a discussion panel organised by the Institute of International Affairs in Prague and moderated by former Czech Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek, about the Kingdom's views on regional and international developments and issues, with a focus on the Palestinian cause and efforts to resolve crises.

Diplomatic ties between the Kingdom and the Czech Republic date back to 1993, while diplomatic relations with Czechoslovakia were established in 1964.