FM meets UN chief Guterres in New York

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Tuesday met with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in New York on the sidelines of the Tenth Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

During their meeting, they highlighted the effective partnership binding Jordan and the UN   and their common will to achieve security and stability in the region and ensure the continued flow of necessary support to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) and Syrian refugees, according to a Foreign Ministry statement..

Safadi and Guterres focused on efforts exerted to find a real “political horizon” to achieve a comprehensive and just peace based on the two-state solution. 

The two sides reviewed preparations for the ministerial conference that Jordan and Sweden are scheduled to organise on the sidelines of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly next September to mobilise necessary support for UNRWA. 

Safadi expressed thanks to the UN for its efforts in supporting UNRWA.

Guterres praised the Kingdom's role and His Majesty King Abdullah’s to resolve regional crises and achieve security, stability and prosperity in the region.

Turning to the Syrian crisis, Safadi stressed the importance of the international community continuing to provide the necessary support to refugees and their host countries. 

On regional and international issues, they stressed the need to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis, the Yemeni crisis, the situation in Libya as well as support Iraq and Lebanon.

The two also shed light on the Ukrainian crisis and its repercussions on food security and energy.

In his meeting with Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde, the two foreign ministers discussed bolstering cooperation in a number of fields. 

Similarly, Safadi and Linde underlined the importance of supporting UNRWA, reflected in their preparations to hold a ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly next month, in order to mobilise sustainable financial support for the agency to serve about 5.7 million Palestinian refugees residing in its five operation areas. 

Safadi valued Sweden's role as a major partner in the efforts to support UNRWA. 

Jordan and Sweden have worked together since 2018 to mobilise financial and political support for UNRWA, organising three international meetings to help the agency bridge its financial deficit and continue to provide its vital services to Palestinian refugees in accordance with its UN mandate.

In another meeting, Safadi held bilateral talks with Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, focusing on cementing bilateral relations between the two countries in various fields.

Discussing the implementation of bilateral agreements, they focused on the Hungarian educational agreement providing Jordanian students grants to study in Hungary.

They examined the possibility of signing more agreements and memoranda of understanding in the near future aimed at enhancing cooperation in various fields.

In his first meeting with Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero, the two ministers reviewed furthering bilateral cooperation especially in trade, economic, investment, agricultural and tourism fields.

Expressing keenness to expand the scope of cooperation, they agreed to hold a round of political consultations in the near future to discuss deepening bilateral relations and signing cooperation agreements. 

Holding talks with Belgian Foreign Minister Hajja Lahbib, Safadi exchanged views on ways to deepen bilateral ties under  the framework of the Kingdom’s partnership with the EU.

Safadi also congratulated his counterpart for assuming her responsibilities as foreign minister.

Safadi's meetings with his counterparts in New York dealt with efforts to achieve security and stability in the region, and several regional issues, foremost of which is the Palestinian cause.

In his meetings, Safadi reiterated the Kingdom’s continuous efforts along with its partners and the international community to find a real “political horizon” that paves way for a return to serious and effective negotiations to achieve a just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution that embodies the independent and sovereign Palestinian state on the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, to live in security and peace alongside Israel, in accordance with international resolutions. 

Participating in the meeting of the Stockholm Initiative for Nuclear Disarmament and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Safadi will also continue meeting with foreign ministers participating in the Tenth Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.