TEHRAN — Jordan has adopted a moderate approach in all areas of life; therefore, it will continue to treat all nations and parties equally in line with its national interests and stability, Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh said on Wednesday.
Addressing the ninth session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Parliamentary Assembly in Tehran, Tarawneh noted that the Kingdom has fixed stances towards all Arab and Muslim causes, highlighting the country’s position on the Palestinian issue and the Syrian crisis.
He cited His Majesty King Abdullah’s efforts in the international arena to bring about stability and peace in the region, in addition to the comprehensive reform efforts exerted by Jordan.
Tarawneh stressed the centrality of the Palestinian issue, which can only be resolved according to the international resolutions and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, leading to the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The speaker acquainted the participants with the impact of the Syrian crisis on neighbouring countries, especially Jordan, which hosts more than 1.6 million Syrians, of whom 600,000 are refugees registered with the UNHCR.
Highlighting issues related to regional unrest, Tarawneh called for unifying counter-terrorism efforts and criminalising terrorism.
Highlighting the Kingdom’s efforts to promote interfaith dialogue that fosters the concepts of tolerance among followers of different religions, Tarawneh said terrorism that uses religion to influence people is the gravest cultural threat “to us all”.
On the sidelines of the OIC session, Tarawneh met with his Turkish counterpart Jemil Çiçek and discussed issues of mutual interest, particularly the situation in Syria.
Çiçek said Jordan is the country most affected by the Syrian refugee crisis, followed by Turkey.
“We share your opinion on the need to end the bloodshed,” he said, warning that Syria’s unity is now at stake as the conflict is on the verge of devolving into a sectarian one.
