FM, UN chief discuss region, UNRWA

AMMAN — Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Saturday discussed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the financial difficulties facing UNRWA, in addition to cooperation between Jordan and the UN.

During the meeting in New York, Safadi conveyed His Majesty King Abdullah’s greetings and appreciation for the UN’s efforts in supporting the Kingdom in shouldering the burdens resulting from the Syrian refugee crisis.

For his part, Guterres praised the Kingdom’s humanitarian role and its efforts to enhance regional security and stability, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

Safadi and Guterres also discussed repercussions of the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as capital of Israel.

Safadi briefed the secretary general on the outcomes of the Arab ministerial meeting that was held in Amman this month to discuss the US’ Jerusalem move, where it was considered “null and void”, stressing that Jerusalem is among the final status issues to be resolved through negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis in accordance with the international resolutions.

The minister urged the international community to recognise a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. 

Safadi and Guterres highlighted the importance of exerting efforts to solve the long-running conflict on the basis of the two-state solution.

They stressed the importance of maintaining support to UNRWA to provide service to the Palestinian refugees, especially after the US decision to cut its contribution to the relief agency.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of a meeting at the UN, Safadi and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and regional issues, especially the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Syrian crisis. 

The top diplomats also stressed the importance of a summit meeting between the King and Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled to be held “soon” in Moscow.

They also discussed the Syrian conflict and efforts aiming at reaching a political solution to the ongoing war there, as well as the Jordanian-Russian-US coordination to preserve the de-escalation zone in southern Syria.

Lavrov briefed Safadi on Moscow’s preparations to hold the Sochi conference on Syria, inviting the Kingdom to participate.

On Thursday, Safadi met with his US counterpart Rex W. Tillerson and discussed developments in financing UNRWA and regional issues.

During the meeting, Safadi and Tillerson discussed the memorandum of understanding on economic and military support to the Kingdom expected to be signed in the near future.

On the Palestinian issue, Safadi briefed his US counterpart on Jordan’s and the Arab League’s stance, which denounces the US decision recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Safadi stressed the importance of direct peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis based on relevant international resolutions, which support establishing a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel on the pre-1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital.

Safadi also stressed the importance of continuing support to UNRWA. 

Also on Friday, Safadi met with Foreign Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Hamad Al Sabah and discussed holding the meetings of the Jordanian-Kuwaiti joint committee soon. Safadi congratulated Sabah on Kuwait’s membership in the Security Council for the next two years.