Safadi meets with Syria’s Assad in Damascus

• Political solution to crisis, drug trafficking top agenda 
• FM, Syrian counterpart hold extensive talks covering a wide range of issues

AMMAN — Syrian President Bashar Al Assad received Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi in Damascus on Monday to discuss efforts towards a political solution to the crisis in Syria.

Safadi reviewed the Kingdom's efforts to move towards a comprehensive solution that would end the crisis and address its humanitarian, security and political ramifications, both internationally and in the context of the Arab path that began after the Jeddah and Amman meetings, a Foreign Ministry statement said.

Talks during the meeting also focused on the steps necessary to ensure the voluntary and safe return of refugees.

The two also discussed the threat posed by drug trafficking across Syria’s borders into Jordan, and the need to cooperate in anti-narcotics efforts.

President Assad stressed the importance of Jordanian-Syrian relations, highlighting the need to develop ties to serve the interests of both countries.

Safadi and his Syrian counterpart, Faisal Al Mekdad, also held extensive talks over several bilateral issues and the Arab path towards a resolution to the crisis in Syria.

The two sides agreed to form a joint committee to combat drug trafficking, and agreed on a date for its first meeting to be held in Amman. 

The two ministers also agreed to coordinate meetings between the relevant officials in the water, agriculture, transport and energy sectors.

At a joint press conference with Mekdad, Safadi said that in addition to bilateral issues, his meeting with President Assad addressed the efforts to reach a political solution to the crisis in Syria. Safadi stressed that the necessary solution can end the crisis and address all its humanitarian, security and political consequences, while safeguarding Syria’s unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty. A comprehensive solution must also realise the aspirations of the Syrian people, free the country from terrorism and create conditions conducive to the voluntary return of Syrian refugees, Safadi said.

Safadi added that his meeting with President Assad and his discussions with Mekdad resulted in an agreement to hold a meeting of the joint committee on water. The two sides also agreed to hold other meetings between both countries’ transport ministers to address related issues.

Safadi also noted the “real threat” posed by drug smuggling through Syria and Jordan, stressing that the situation warrants cooperation and that “the Kingdom will continue to take all necessary measures to protect our national security from this threat”.

Regarding efforts to reach a political solution to the crisis, Safadi said that after the Jeddah meeting and during the Amman meeting, “We agreed on such a roadmap to gradually resolve the crisis and address its consequences.”

“The 12-year crisis, which has resulted in dangerous consequences, will not be solved over night,” Safadi said, adding that “yet, we have embarked on a serious Arab path to solve the crisis” according to a methodology based on a step-by-step principle and in line with resolution 2254.

Jordan is one of the nations most affected by the crisis in Syria, therefore highly prioritises finding a solution, the foreign minister added. “For this reason, we continue the efforts led by His Majesty King Abdullah to take practical steps towards this solution,” he said.

Safadi also stressed that finding a solution to the refugee issue is essential for Jordan, which hosts some 1.3 million refugees, only 10 per cent of whom live in refugee camps, with the remaining 90 per cent living in communities across the Kingdom.

Jordan has granted over 300,000 work permits to Syrian refugees, and some 155,000 Syrian students are studying in public schools, the foreign minister added.

Safadi also stressed the need for cooperation with the international community to solve the crisis, especially considering the sanctions that are imposed by the international community. “We must proceed along a path towards providing conditions that will allow the end of these sanctions and the restoration of Syria’s full recovery,” he said.

For his part, Mekdad outlined the most important topics covered during the meetings, including the recent Arab summit and bilateral relations, with the two sides stressing their mutual interest in achieving security and stability among the Arab nations.

The Syrian minister referred to consultations with Jordan on various issues, including refugees and the best methods to facilitate the path towards their return.

Mekdad also referred to the importance of deep bilateral coordination, especially before the next meeting of the Arab contact committee, in order to produce a unified perspective that is reflective of the “authentic” Arab position “in order to solve the problems we face in Syria, and the problems facing the region in general.”