AMMAN — Jordan and France on Sunday discussed the preparations for the Geneva II conference on Syria.
During a meeting between Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh and his French counterpart Laurent Fabius in Paris on the sidelines of the Friends of Syria meeting, the two diplomats discussed the January 22 meeting, which is aimed at reaching a political solution to the Syrian conflict, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
During his participation in the Friends of Syria meeting in Paris, Judeh reiterated Jordan’s stand calling for an end to the bloodshed and expediting efforts to forge an inclusive political solution to the crisis that ensures the unity of Syria’s people and territory.
He stressed the need for the Syrian opposition factions to unite and take a collective decision to take part in Geneva II conference.
Judeh highlighted Jordan’s contributions at all levels to reach the envisioned solution, underlining Jordan’s firm rejection of any foreign military intervention to end the conflict.
He also outlined the consequences of the Syrian crisis on Jordan, which hosts more than 600,000 Syrian refugees, renewing a call to the world community to extend more aid to help the Kingdom carry on with its humanitarian mission and ease pressure on its infrastructure.
During his meeting with Fabius, Judeh expressed Jordan’s appreciation of France’s continuous support.
Discussions also focused on the role the Kingdom can play through its UN Security Council membership and the issues that the council will look into this month under Jordan’s presidency.
France is committed to maintaining coordination with Jordan, Fabius said, adding that the election of the Kingdom as a non-permanent Security Council member is testament to the respect it commands internationally.
The two officials also stressed the need for concerted efforts to support the US administration in brokering the ongoing peace negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
Also in Paris, Judeh attended a meeting of the Arab ministerial team delegated by the Arab Peace Initiative Committee at the Arab League to contact the US administration to receive an update on the development of Palestinian-Israeli talks.
US Secretary of State John Kerry met with the ministerial team and highlighted the results of his latest visit to Palestine, Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Judeh reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support to a two-state solution leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state on the pre-1976 border, with East Jerusalem as its capital, noting that having an independent Palestinian state is a higher Jordanian interest, Petra reported.
