Safadi tackles regional peace processes with top officials at London gathering

AMMAN — Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Thursday held a series of meetings with top officials attending the London initiative, with talks focusing on bilateral relations in the region. 

Safadi met separately with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn, Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahisa Sato and State Secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Audun Halvorsen, a Foreign Ministry statement said.

The London initiative was held on Thursday to rally international efforts in support of Jordan's economy. 

At his meeting with Shoukry, the two ministers discussed ways to further bilateral relations, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Syrian crisis, among other issues, according to the statement. 

In his meeting with his Turkish counterpart, Safadi discussed ways of furthering economic relations between the two countries, with the two ministers stressing the importance of resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the centrality of the Palestinian cause to the region. 

They affirmed their support of a two-state solution that leads to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital along the June 4, 1967 lines. 

Cavusoglu commended the importance of Jordan's role as the custodian of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem. 

Safadi and Cevisoglu reiterated the necessity of finding a solution to the Syrian crisis in accordance with UN Resolution 2254.

Meanwhile, Safadi's meeting with Hahn tackled the preparations for the third iteration of the Brussels conference on the Syria crisis, with Safadi affirming the need for the international community to continue upholding its responsibility towards Jordan as it attempts to meet the needs of 1.3 million Syrian refugees on its land.

In his meeting with the Japanese minister, Safadi commended the Japanese support for UNRWA’s mandate in Jordan and its efforts to assist the Palestinian people 

Safadi and his Norwegian counterpart also discussed the peace processes for regional conflicts, particularly the Palestinian-Israli conflict and the Syrian crisis.

The two officials also went over ways of improving coordination with regards to the war against terrorism.