Safadi, Egypt’s Shoukry discuss anti-annexation drive, ties

AMMAN — Jordan and Egypt on Sunday highlighted the importance of sustaining consultation over regional challenges and efforts exerted to resolve them, mainly measures aimed at stopping the Israeli annexation decision and ending the conflict according to the two-state solution and international law.

During a meeting between Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, the two sided stressed the need for joint action, in coordination with other countries, to reach an “effective” international stance to prevent the implementation of the annexation decision and resume “serious negotiations” to realise a just peace, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

During a joint press meeting after the talks, Safadi said that efforts are under way to further enhance the Jordanian-Egyptian cooperation in all fields, referring to similar endeavours to enhance the Jordanian-Egyptian-Iraqi cooperation as a means to serve Arab causes, the statement said.

In this regard, he noted that arrangements are ongoing for a trilateral meeting between the heads of state of Jordan, Egypt and Iraq.

The minister said that the annexation decision topped the discussions, adding that if implemented, the Israeli measure would have “catastrophic repercussions not only on the two-state solution but also on all efforts seeking to realise a just peace accepted by the region’s peoples”.

The two sides also discussed the Renaissance Dam, Safadi said, voicing the Kingdom's appreciation for the Egyptian position in refraining from any unilateral measures and seeking an agreement that guarantees the interests of all sides involved, according to the statement. 

Touching on developments in Libya, the minister said that “regionalising the Libyan crisis will make it more difficult and complicated”, stressing that Jordan supports all efforts aimed at reaching a political solution to the crisis in a way that maintains the country’s unity. 

Safadi said that the Kingdom supports all UN resolutions pertaining to reaching a settlement made by Libyans themselves, in addition to supporting the outcomes of the Berlin conference and the Cairo declaration.

On the Syrian crisis, Safadi said that the Jordanian and Egyptian stances “have been and will be similar”. 

"The crisis in Syria has to end and we all have to work jointly to reach an end to the suffering of the Syrian people through a political solution that preserves the unity of Syria and creates circumstances necessary for the voluntary return of refugees," he added.

For his part, Shoukry said that the discussions mainly focused on the Palestinian cause, the joint action to clarify possible threats of the annexation decision and the negative impact of such a decision on the peace process, the two-state solution and international legitimacy resolutions.

He added that talks went over the latest updates in the Syrian, Libyan and Iraqi arenas and “attempts from outside the region to expand their military presence at the expense of the Arab national security, which is a dangerous thing that must be addressed decisively", the statement said.  

Also on Sunday, Safadi and his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein went over joint steps to enhance the "brotherly and historical" ties and enhance cooperation in all fields.

During talks over the phone, the two ministers highlighted the importance of activating bilateral agreements in the fields of energy, industry, trade, investment, health, education, defence and anti-terrorism, according to a separate Foreign Ministry statement.

Safadi voiced the Kingdom's solidarity and support to Iraq and in  its efforts towards reconstruction and safeguarding the country's security, stability and sovereignty.

For his part, Hussein praised Amman's stances supporting his country's interests and sovereignty, highlighting the significance of His Majesty King Abdullah's efforts to enhance regional security and stability, according to the statement.