Jordan’s stance on Syria unchanged — Momani

AMMAN — Jordan’s political stance regarding the Syrian crisis remains the same since it started four years ago and has never changed, Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani said on Monday.

Momani noted that the Kingdom seeks to have “security” in the neighbourhood to ensure the country’s borders are fully controlled by the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army and make sure refugees return to their home after security prevails. Jordan currently hosts around 1.5 million Syrians escaping the conflict in their country.

At a meeting with media representatives on Monday evening, Momani, who is also minister of state for media affairs and communications, noted that “our stance supports our ability to protect our borders as well".

Turning to last week's incident in Ramtha, where shells from Syria fell on a marketplace killing one Jordanian and injuring four others, the minister said it is not easy to identify the source of the shells, as several groups are fighting in neighbouring Daraa across the border.

He stressed that Jordan keeps its right to retaliate against any source of threat to its land or citizens as it did in previous cases, but underlined that the source of last week’s shell was still unknown.

Momani, however, reiterated Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour’s statements that Jordan will continue to allow humanitarian assistance to go through to Daraa and Suwaida in southern Syria.

As to supporting Syrian tribes as stated earlier, the minister said the Kingdom will only support tribes who ask for help.