FM holds slew of meetings on sidelines of Doha Forum

AMMAN —  Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Saturday met Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein, and his Algerian counterpart Ramtane Lamamra, among other top diplomats,  on the sidelines of the Doha Forum. 

Talks with his Qatari counterpart focused on both countries' measures to enhance cooperation in the economic and investment fields. 

Safadi and Sheikh Mohammed said that bilateral relations are “effectively moving towards broader cooperation”, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. 

Safadi said that the number of Jordanians living in Doha has increased from 58,000 in 2019 to some 70,000, thanks to Qatar’s initiative to provide 20,000 new jobs for Jordanians in the Gulf country.

Both ministers also reiterated their countries firm stance towards the foremost central issue, the Palestinian cause, highlighting the necessity to find a political horizon to realise fair and comprehensive peace that could end the occupation and ensure the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The two ministers also referred to various regional and international issue, notably efforts to resolve the crises in Syria, Yemen and Libya, as well as the situation in Afghanistan and the regional and international repercussions of the Ukrainian crisis.

Safadi also congratulated Sheikh Mohammed on the success of Doha Forum, which has been recognised as a platform for diplomacy and dialogue.

During the meeting with Mikati, Safadi reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support for Lebanon’s endeavours to overcome the crisis the country faces. 

Mikati expressed appreciation for Jordan’s stance led by His Majesty King Abdullah to support Lebanon’s stability, security and sovereignty.

Both parties discussed bolstering bilateral relations in various fields, providing Jordanian energy to Lebanon through Syria and pumping Egyptian gas to Lebanon through Jordan and Syria.

The Lebanese PM briefed Safadi on Lebanon’s relations with the GCC countries and Saudi Arabia’s positive response.

Safadi highlighted the importance of the Kuwaiti initiative to end the Gulf-Lebanon crisis, expressing hopes for the return of normal relations to cement Arab solidarity in service of Arab issues. 

Safadi, while meeting with his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein, highlighted the stability of Iraq as a foundation for the region’s security.

He said that according to the directives of His Majesty King Abdullah, supporting Iraq and furthering bilateral relations is a priority. 

They discussed bolstering bilateral relations and coordination within the framework of the tripartite cooperation with Egypt. 

With his Algerian counterpart Ramtane Lamamra, Safadi agreed to speed up the signing procedures of several memoranda of understanding and agreements to boost bilateral cooperation between the countries. 

The agreements, which both countries seek to activate, include cooperation in the economic and investment fields and visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic passports, according to a ministry statement.

Both ministers also went over preparations to hold the ninth joint committee slated to be held in Amman this year.

Safadi also met Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Busaidi, with talks focusing on means to advance ties and the latest regional developments.  

Safadi also held meetings with  other officials participating in Doha forum, including Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, German Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Nils Anin and  Josep Borrell, high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Also during a dialogue session, attended by Greek Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi, among others, Safadi stressed that meeting refugees demands is a collective responsibility, not restricted to host countries, calling for maintaining support for refugees and host communities.   

He highlighted the Kingdom's efforts in ensuring a decent life for more than one million Syrians living in Jordan, out of which only 10 per cent are living in refugee camps.