Safadi, North Macedonia counterpart talk ties, region

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, during the foreign minister’s first visit to the Kingdom, met on Sunday and agreed to increase cooperation in various vital issues.

Following discussions, the two ministers signed a cooperation protocol to serve as a framework for future coordination, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

The two also agreed that there are promising opportunities for economic, commercial and cultural cooperation between Jordan and North Macedonia, which opened diplomatic relations in 2000.

The two ministers also discussed the legislative framework and agreements necessary to increase economic cooperation and communication between the two countries’ private sectors, and agreed to coordinate with the relevant authorities to examine the feasibility of conducting regular flights and facilitating visa issuance.

Safadi and Osmani also emphasised the need to enhance cooperation in combating the common threat of terrorism.

They also discussed a number of regional developments, mainly the Palestinian cause, which Safadi stressed that this issue is the region's "basis of the conflict and key to the solution at the same time".

Safadi warned of “the dangers of the absence of political grounds” for achieving the two-state solution, as well as the continuing deterioration of the Palestinian territories. 

The foreign minister called on Israel to cease its intrusions into Palestinian cities and its attacks on Palestinians, their land and their property.

The two ministers also discussed the Ukrainian crisis and its repercussions.

Safadi and Osmani went over ongoing preparations for the organisation for Security and European Cooperation (OSCE) Mediterranean Conference, which is scheduled to commence in the Dead Sea area on Monday. 

At the conference, the parties will discuss strengthening security and cooperation in the Mediterranean region and strengthening dialogue with regional partners. North Macedonia chairs the group of Mediterranean partners at OSCE.

The Foreign Minister of Poland Zbigniew Rau, representatives of the OSCE’s 57 member states, its 10 Mediterranean and Asian partners, OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid, Secretary General of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Roberto Montella and several of OSCE parliamentary members are planned to participate in the conference.

In joint press remarks, Safadi and Osmani stressed keenness to increase cooperation in various fields.

Safadi said that the two countries will find a mechanism to identify fields with “clear cooperation” in a way that realises joint benefits for the two nations, noting that discussions were “practical and positive”, and will be fruitful with accrediting the follow-up on agreements.

He also praised the position of North Macedonia in supporting the two-state solution, which represents the sole way towards reaching just and comprehensive peace.

The minister also warned against the deteriorating conditions in occupied Palestinian territories, stressing the importance of Israel ceasing all military operations in Palestinian cities and all procedures that undermine the two-state solution. 

He also acquainted his Macedonian counterpart with the Kingdom’s efforts to stop the deterioration of security in the occupied Palestinian territories, noting that Jordan is working to “find a political horizon” to allow the continuation of serious and effective negotiations regarding the two-state solution.

Osmani voiced his country’s keenness to further develop relations with Jordan and to increase fruitful cooperation.

He also referred to a scheduled meeting with Agriculture Minister Khalid Hneifat that is set to occur on Monday regarding the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the agricultural sector, and cooperation in food security.

The minister also expressed his country’s appreciation for the Kingdom’s support for North Macedonia’s bid to join the Union for the Mediterranean, which Jordan has chaired since 2012 in partnership with the EU.