FM meeting with EU envoys centres on Mideast peace, anti-virus cooperation

AMMAN — Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Thursday met with EU Ambassador Maria Hadjitheodosiou and  EU member states' ambassadors  over anti-coronavirus cooperation and the latest developments related to the Palestinian cause. 

During the meeting, Safadi reviewed the measures taken by the Kingdom to confront the pandemic and its repercussions on the national economy, calling for a collective international effort to address the consequences of the virus crisis, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

Lauding the EU’s support to the Kingdom in this arena, Safadi expressed Jordan’s readiness to offer any possible support amid the pandemic.

The Foreign minister also highlighted the importance of the EU’s role in confronting any Israeli decision to annex occupied Palestinian lands.

The annexation decision, if implemented, would undermine all peace efforts made throughout the past years and would “kill” the two-state solution, resulting in the establishment of an apartheid state, he said.

Safadi called for taking effective measures to prevent Israel from annexing the settlements, the Jordan Valley and the northern Dead Sea regions in occupied Palestine to safeguard international law and comprehensive peace, which constitutes a regional and international priority.

During the meeting, which took place ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers scheduled to take place on Friday, with the issue of annexation included on its agenda, Safadi stressed the need for launching “serious” direct negotiations to resolve the conflict on the basis of the two-state solution, in accordance with international law and relevant international legitimacy resolutions.

Safadi expressed appreciation for the EU’s “clear stance” rejecting any annexation of the Palestinian territories in violation of international law, which would undermine peace efforts, stressing that adherence to the two-state solution based on international law is the only way to resolve the conflict.

He also urged the international community, especially  the EU, to take “practical steps” that prevent and reject any Israeli decision on annexation, highlighting the importance of the bloc’s role in protecting international law and peace efforts, the statement said.

Safadi also expressed appreciation for the EU’s supportive stances to UNRWA, stressing the importance of providing the refugee agency with the needed financial support.

Within the context of regional developments, Safadi emphasised the need to support Iraq’s efforts to protect its national interests and fulfil its people’s ambitions.

Talks also went over the importance of supporting Iraq’s rebuilding efforts and safeguarding its security, stability and sovereignty.

Safadi also underlined the Kingdom’s keenness to enhance the Jordan-EU partnership in various sectors, with the EU ambassador and other participants lauding the Kingdom’s efforts in battling the coronavirus.