Safadi, Indonesia FM talk ties, region

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi on Tuesday received Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and discussed ways to strengthen relations and reviewed regional developments, foremost of which is the Palestinian issue.

Safadi and Marsudi affirmed that there are broad prospects for strengthening cooperation between the two countries, whose 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations coincides with this year, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

They agreed on specifying the agreements that must be signed to create the appropriate legislative environment to increase and define areas of cooperation.

Both agreed on the centrality of the Palestinian issue and that peace will not be achieved without solving it on the basis of the two-state solution.

Marsudi was briefed on the outcomes of the extraordinary ministerial session of the Arab League Council in Cairo on Monday, which positively reflected the unified Arab stance.

The two sides stressed that the two-state solution paves the way for an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital on the June 4, 1967 lines.

“There is an opportunity to create a better horizon with the assumption of responsibility by a new US administration whose statements explicitly clarify its keenness to create an environment that allows progress towards restoring serious and effective negotiations to achieve peace,” the statement quoted Safadi as saying.

Such peace will be established on the basis of the two-state solution that embodies an independent and sovereign Palestine on the lines of June 4, 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international law, resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab peace initiative.

“Our efforts and coordination will continue with our brothers in Indonesia and Arab countries,” he highlighted, noting that the League meeting held by a joint Jordanian-Egyptian initiative provided “a basis for  our dialogue and our engagement with the American administration, the European Union,  the International Quartet and with the international community”.

For her part, Marsudi expressed appreciation of the strong relationship between the two countries, describing it as “comprehensive” since it is not only exclusive to the governmental level but also includes business and parliamentary affairs.

Indonesia supports the Arab League’s stance towards the Palestinian issue, she stressed, pointed out that she will meet with the Palestinian Foreign Minister on Wednesday.