Lithuania, Malta officials express support for Jordan amidst regional crises

AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Monday met separately with the foreign ministers of Lithuania and Malta Linas Linkevicius and George Vella. 

Ensour briefed them on the latest regional developments and their direct impact on Jordan. He also highlighted the Kingdom’s efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region. 

The premier said not reaching a just solution to the Palestinian issue has entrenched violence and terrorism in the region and around the world, noting that the groups fighting in Syria are from around 80 different countries. 

Linkevicius and Vella commended Jordan’s policy and efforts in support of regional peace and stability, expressing their understanding of the burdens borne by the Kingdom as a result of hosting large numbers of Syrian refugees. 

At present, Jordan is home to more than 618,000 registered Syrian refugees. 

Senate President Abdur-Ra’uf S. Rawabdeh also met with Linkevicius and his accompanying delegation in the presence of several senators.  

Rawabdeh highlighted the work of the Jordanian Parliament and the Kingdom’s reform process.

Linkevicius praised Jordan’s efforts to arrive at viable solutions that achieve justice for the people of the region. 

Also on Monday, Lower House Speaker Atef Tarawneh met with Vella and highlighted the increasing pressures on Jordan as a result of the continued influx of Syrian refugees over the past three years. 

Tarawneh told Vella that more than 150,000 Syrian students are enrolled in Jordanian schools, in addition to the growing pressures on the health sector and the labour market where Syrian workers have been competing with Jordanians.