Beirut relief efforts top FM’s talks with UN, EU officials

AMMAN — Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Sunday stressed the importance of international community’s solidarity with Lebanon in the aftermath of a deadly explosion that shook the Beirut port last week.

During his meeting with EU ambassador and representatives of EU countries to Jordan, Safadi voiced Amman's readiness to cooperate in delivering assistance to Beirut through the Kingdom, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

The foreign minister reiterated the Kingdom's support to the Lebanese people, highlighting the dispatch of urgent aid, including a military field hospital to Beirut.

During the meeting, Safadi also discussed means of boosting bilateral ties in all fields, voicing appreciation for EU's support to the Kingdom.

Talks also covered cooperation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Safadi reviewed efforts exerted towards preventing the implementation of the Israeli annexation decision and measures to relaunch “serious and effective negotiations” to achieve a just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution and international law.

He appreciated the EU’s stance rejecting the annexation decision in adherence to international law, and its support of the two-state solution, which has been expressed by Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and many European countries, according to the statement. 

Talks also went over efforts aimed at reaching political solutions to regional crises, namely Syria and Libya, underlining the importance of the EU's role in this arena.

During a separate meeting with representatives of UN organisations in Jordan, the minister affirmed that the Kingdom will provide all necessary support to Lebanon's aid operations.

His Majesty King Abdullah’s directives are  to provide all possible assistance to Lebanon after the massive blast, notably “lending a helping hand” to UN organisations and their programmes in Lebanon, he said.

He also emphasised the importance of the Jordanian-UN partnership in economic and social development programmes, as well as meeting the refugees' needs, highlighting the Kingdom's keenness to further develop partnerships with UN organisations.