Jordan, Iraq, Egypt foreign ministers hold meeting in Cairo over strengthening ties

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry on Tuesday held a trilateral meeting in Cairo, where all parties stressed their mutual keenness to enhance cooperation and coordination.

The three ministers agreed to follow up on the projects approved under the trilateral cooperation mechanism, a Foreign Ministry statement said.

All parties stressed the importance of the trilateral cooperation mechanism, which is based on the three countries' shared history and interests. The mechanism primarily aims to enhance cooperation in several vital sectors and realise economic integration, which would benefit the entire region.

The diplomats agreed to task senior officials with holding a meeting as soon as possible to follow up on previous cooperative projects and decisions.

Safadi, along with his Iraqi and Egyptian counterparts, are scheduled to hold a meeting on the sidelines of the 78th UN General Assembly session in New York to prepare for the upcoming leaders summit, which Egypt will host under the trilateral cooperation mechanism.

Ahead of the trilateral meeting on Tuesday, Safadi held bilateral talks with Shoukry, where the two reaffirmed their commitment joint consultation in addressing regional political developments, according to a foreign ministry statement. 

Both ministers praised the dynamic developments in Jordanian-Egyptian ties, also lauding the results of the 31st session of the Jordanian-Egyptian Joint Supreme Committee held in Amman last week, which was chaired by the respective prime ministers of both countries.

Safadi and his Egyptian counterpart also discussed the substantial progress of the Trilateral Cooperation Mechanism with Iraq, highlighting several joint projects conducted under the mechanism and the mutual efforts of both nations to achieve further results within this framework.

The ministers also discussed improving coordination to resolve the crisis in Syria through the Arab Ministerial Contact Committee on Syria. 

The committee meeting will be hosted by Egypt, and will be attended by the foreign ministers of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria, as well as the Secretary-General of the Arab League.

Also on Tuesday, Safadi and Hussein held a meeting on the sidelines of the trilateral meeting with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, part of the tripartite Cooperation Mechanism.

The discussions, held in Cairo, focused on joint efforts to strengthen the Jordanian-Iraqi ties, with both ministers reaffirming their commitment to enhance bilateral coordination and multifaceted consultations among their Arab counterparts to promote mutual interests, strengthen joint Arab action and address the challenges facing the region, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.