FM, Swedish counterpart discuss support for UNRWA

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Wednesday discussed efforts to support UNRWA with his Swedish counterpart Ann Linde, where they stressed the “deep-rooted” relations between the two countries. 

The two ministers reviewed the latest regional developments and efforts to reach solutions to Middle East crises and realise security and stability, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. 

Safadi and Linde also went over means to enhance cooperation in the economic and development fields, and to face the COVID-19 pandemic and its repercussions.

They also discussed efforts to re-launch serious and effective negotiations to realise a just and permanent solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict based on the two-state solution.

The talks covered the latest updates related to reaching a political solution to the Syrian crisis, refugee crisis and the developments in Lebanon, as well as supporting Iraq and the war on terrorism. 

The two ministers also stressed the importance of joint action to guarantee international support for refugees and host countries and to help reach political solutions to regional crises. The ministers expressed keenness to enhance cooperation at the bilateral level and within the partnership with the EU.

Safadi commended Sweden’s support for the Kingdom and the strong partnership between the countries. Linde praised Jordan’s role in hosting refugees and achieving security, peace and stability.

Safadi also met with the Deputy Speaker of Sweden Riksdag Kerstin Lundgren and members of the foreign affairs committee in a meeting to review means to increase cooperation and the regional developments. 

The foreign minister acquainted the Swedish MPs with Jordan’s economic and political reforms. He also informed the Swedish MPs of the Kingdom’s stances on regional developments and its effort to solve Middle East crises and strengthen cooperation between the region and Europe. 

Lundgren and other lawmakers praised the Sweden-Jordan ties and stressed keenness to develop them further.

Sweden is one of the biggest supporters of UNRWA. Stockholm’s donations to the UN agency in 2021 amounted to almost $46 million.