Jordanian foreign minister discusses push for Syrian peace with European counterparts

Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi discussed on Thursday with European counterparts the outcomes of the Amman consultative meeting on Syria. (Petra)

• Ayman Safadi addressed German, Finnish, Maltese and Greek ministers on Arab consensus plan to reach Syrian solution
• The European foreign ministers stressed the importance of the efforts exerted to gradually resolve the Syrian crisis

AMMAN: Jordan’s foreign minister has discussed with European counterparts the progress and future steps of an Arab-led initiative to gradually reach a political solution in Syria.
Ayman Safadi, who is also Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister, stressed the importance of consensus reached at a recent joint-Arab meeting in Amman, and added that the plan would help address Syria’s humanitarian, political and security problems.
Safadi held phone discussions on Thursday with Annalena Baerbock of Germany, Pekka Haavisto of Finland, Ian Borg of Malta and Nikos Dendias of Greece.
Jordans News Agency said that they spoke about resolving the crisis and what was needed to address key issues with a “step-by-step” methodology in line with Security Council Resolution 2254.
The resolution includes the delivery of humanitarian aid to Syrians, the voluntary return of refugees, the fight against terrorism and addressing drug smuggling as a stepping-stone to tackling more comprehensive security and political issues.
The European foreign ministers stressed the importance of the efforts exerted to gradually resolve the Syrian crisis, the news agency said.
Safadi also met a delegation from the German Bundestag Budget Committee, lead by MP Claudia Raffelhüschen, to discuss methods to strengthen the “strong” partnerships between the two countries.
The meeting also discussed the existing cooperation in a number of economic and development sectors.
Safadi valued Germany’s support to Jordan and its development process, and its assistance in facing repercussions on the Kingdom of regional crises, especially with regard to Berlin’s support for Jordan’s efforts to provide a decent life for Syrian refugees and its aid for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.
The Jordanian minister also discussed regional issues with the delegation, most notably the Palestinian cause, and outcomes of the Amman consultative meeting on Syria.