AMMAN — Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh on Monday held separate talks with the US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Paris that focused on bilateral ties and the latest regional developments.
During his meeting with Kerry, Judeh voiced Jordan’s support for the US-brokered peace negotiations with the Palestinians and the Israelis. He reiterated that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the pre-1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital is the ultimate goal of the peace talks, adding that the envisioned resolution must also be based on the Arab Peace Initiative.
Judeh stressed that all the other final status issues (Jerusalem, refugees, borders, water and security) lie at the heart of the Kingdom’s higher interests, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
The two officials reviewed preparations for the projected Geneva II peace conference on Syria, slated for January 22. Judeh renewed Jordan’s “unaltered” position on the Syrian crisis that calls for a comprehensive political solution that can safeguard the territorial unity of Syria and an end to the suffering of its people.
They also discussed ways to address the burdens on Jordan resulting from hosting more than 600,000 Syrian refugees and the need for the international community to shoulder its responsibilities towards Jordan to help it carry on with its humanitarian mission to aid the refugees.
During his meeting with Lavrov, Judeh called for enhancing the Jordanian-Russian relations in all fields, stressing the need to maintain consultations and coordination between the two sides over all issues of mutual concern.
Lavrov said the election of Jordan to the UN Security Council non-permanent seat reflected the fact that the world holds the Kingdom and His Majesty King Abdullah in high esteem.
Highlighting the pivotal role of Russia in the Mideast peace process, whether independently or through its role in the International Quartet, Judeh reiterated the call for establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
On Syria, Judeh and Lavrov stressed the need to implement the resolutions of the Geneva I conference, especially those concerning the establishment of a transitional government in Syria, as well as the importance of holding Geneva II peace talks.
Judeh also briefed Russia’s top diplomat on the humanitarian consequences of the Syrian crisis on Jordan.
