Jordan to host Arab foreign ministers’ meeting to tackle Syria crisis

AMMAN: Jordan will host a meeting of foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt and Syria on Monday to continue their talks on formulating a solution to the Syrian crisis.

Sinan Al-Majali, a spokesperson for Jordan’s Foreign Ministry, said on Sunday that the meeting in Amman “comes in continuation of the consultative meeting held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on April 14.”

The latest talks were aimed at “building on the outcomes of the communications these countries made with the Syrian government within their proposals and the Jordanian initiative to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis,” he said.

Following the meeting in Jeddah, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the diplomats discussed the efforts underway to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis that would preserve its stability and territorial unity.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan hosted the meeting. It was also attended by Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al-Zayani, Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein and the diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, Anwar Gargash.

The Saudi statement said the ministers discussed work mechanisms and stressed the need for intensified consultations between Arab countries to ensure the success of the peace efforts.

They also called for immediate measures to tackle the humanitarian crisis in Syria and create a suitable environment for aid to reach all regions of the country.

Meanwhile, Jordan has been working on a joint Arab peace plan that could end the crisis in Syria and bring the country back into the Arab fold. Syria’s membership of the Arab League was suspended in 2011 over its crackdown on protests.

Although Jordan has yet to announce any details of the plan, Amman is reported to be in talks with its Arab allies and key international players in Syria, including the US, Russia, the UK, EU and UN.

The Jordanian Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the matter, but an official source, who requested anonymity, told Arab News that the peace plan entailed forming an Arab consultation group that would discuss with the Syrian government a road map for resolving the crisis, which is now in its 13th year.

The plan was based on relevant UN resolutions on Syria, including Resolution 2254, which demands that all parties cease fire and engage in formal negotiations, and Resolution 642, which allows for life-saving humanitarian aid to be delivered into the country, the source said.

“The Syrian government’s adherence to these resolutions, openness for constructive negotiation with other Syrian parties, release of prisoners, opening corridors for humanitarian aid, creating the suitable atmosphere to encourage refugees to return home, and tackling the illicit drug industry and trafficking are the major components of the Jordanian-proposed plan,” the person said.