Italy to push for reviving Mideast peace talks — FM

AMMAN — Italy, which prepares to take over EU presidency for the next six months, will use its authority to push for reviving peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis, the country’s top diplomat said Sunday.

The European country shares Jordan’s point of view on the peace process and is committed to the two-state solution, Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini said at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh in Amman.

Mogherini called for serious efforts to revive peace talks, acknowledging Jordan’s important role in the process as a major player in the region, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Judeh said resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict — based on the two-state solution — is a higher Jordanian interest.

He thanked Italy for assisting Jordan in hosting over 1.3 million Syrians, calling for a political solution to the crisis in Syria.

Stressing her country’s intention to expand cooperation with Jordan, Mogherini said Rome is aware of the major challenges facing the Kingdom as it deals with the Syrian refugee crisis and its need for further humanitarian and security support.

During their meeting earlier on Sunday, the two officials discussed ways of boosting bilateral relations and joint cooperation at all levels, Petra said.

During her visit to Jordan, Mogherini also went to the Azraq Refugee Camp, some 100km east of Amman, and the field hospital built there this year by the Italian government, according to an Italian embassy statement.

The hospital is fully equipped by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and can host up to 130 inpatients. 

In the last two years, Italy has invested more than 6.5 million euros (around JD6.3 million) in Jordan through contributions to UN agencies and direct interventions with a particular focus on health, protection and support for host communities, according to the embassy.