Safadi, Lazzarini reaffirm joint action to support UNRWA

AMMAN — Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Commissioner General of UNRWA Philippe Lazzarini on Monday stressed the importance of the ongoing joint action to mobilise the needed political and financial support to enable the UN agency to keep providing its vital services to Palestinian refugees in accordance with its UN mandate.

During talks held at the Foreign ministry, the two sides reviewed the outcomes of the ministerial conference organised by the Kingdom and Sweden at the end of last month, which resulted in $130 million in financial pledges.

Safadi and Lazzarini discussed future steps to build on the results of the international conference and ensure continued financial support to the UN agency, according to a ministry statement.

Safadi attached importance to ensuring “sustainable support” to UNRWA to implement its tasks according to its international mandate, until a fair solution to the Palestinian cause is reached based on the two-state solution and international legitimacy resolutions that lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on pre-June 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Highlighting His Majesty King Abdullah's role in this arena, Safadi said that supporting the agency and ensuring its funding are top priorities for the Kingdom under direct Royal directives.

Lazzarini voiced appreciation for the Kingdom's efforts to mobilise international support for UNRWA. 

He highlighted Jordan’s prominent role in cooperation with the international community to ease the financial deficit of the UN agency, according to the statement.