Foreign minister delivers verbal message from King to Syrian president

• Safadi meets with Assad in Damascus, stresses need for voluntary return of refugees
• Assad says 'significant progress' made towards voluntary return of refugees 
• Jordanian, Syrian top diplomats discuss drug smuggling from Syria to Jordan

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi conveyed a verbal message from His Majesty King Abdullah to Syrian President Bashar Al Assad. 

The message covered several bilateral issues and efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis and address its various consequences, particularly the refugee issue and the threat of drug smuggling, according to a Foreign Ministry statement. 

The message also addressed the "dangerous" regional escalation, the need for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon and Israel's escalatory measures in the West Bank.

President Assad affirmed his commitment to strengthening the relations between the two countries and voiced appreciation for King's efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis, the statement said. 

On the refugee crisis, Assad emphasized that ensuring the voluntary and safe return of Syrian refugees is a priority for his government which, he said, "has already made significant progress, particularly in the legislative and legal aspects."

Safadi stressed that resolving the Syrian crisis in a way that guarantees Syria’s territorial unity, cohesion and sovereignty and creates the conditions for the voluntary return of refugees, is an important demand and a top interest for the entire region which Jordan has been working to realize, according to the statement. 

Following the meeting, Safadi held extensive talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Bassam Sabbagh, focusing on the refugee issue and efforts to combat drug smuggling.

Safadi reiterated that drug smuggling [from Syria] remains a threat that Jordan continues to confront with all its capabilities. 

Both ministers emphasized the need for intensified cooperation in facing the threat through the Jordanian-Syrian joint committee on combating drug smuggling across borders, which commenced operations in July 2023.

The two ministers agreed to launch an ongoing dialogue on efforts to facilitate the voluntary return of Syrian refugees. 

Safadi affirmed that resolving the refugee issue lies in their return to their homeland, but the international community must continue to bear its responsibilities towards them until they go back home. 

Both ministers reiterated continued cooperation in efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis through the Arab Contact Group, with the goal of making tangible, practical progress in resolving the crisis, according to the principles, frameworks, and methodology outlined in the Amman Statement on May 1 of 2023.

On regional matters, the two ministers stressed the urgent need for the international community to act immediately to stop Israeli aggression on Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the dangerous escalation against the Palestinian people in the occupied West Bank, and to put an end to the humanitarian catastrophe caused by the aggression, the statement said.