NATO holds dialogue seminar in Jordan

AMMAN — Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour on Tuesday received NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and an accompanying delegation. 

During the meeting, attended by Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani, discussions focused on boosting cooperation at the bilateral level and vis-à-vis regional challenges such as the refugee burden and terror threat. Stoltenberg is currently in Jordan to take part in the Mediterranean Dialogue Seminar, marking the 20th anniversary of the Mediterranean Dialogue. 

Ensour highlighted the challenges facing the Kingdom as a result of hosting large number of Syrian refugees and in light of regional crises.

He also underscored the need to arrive at a solution for the Palestinian issue so as to achieve regional stability, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

The premier stressed that Israel must implement international resolutions related to the Palestinian issue, to lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, on the basis of the two-state solution. 

Stoltenberg underscored the importance of the strategic partnership between NATO and Jordan and he expressed his appreciation of Jordan’s role in efforts to restore regional peace and stability.  

Ambassadors of Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia are participating in the partnership forum, according to NATO website.

Also on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh met Stoltenberg over cooperation under way between Jordan and the organisation. 

At the meeting, Judeh and Stoltenberg addressed challenges the Middle East is facing, especially the Palestinian issue and the importance of resuming Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

They also discussed the latest developments in Syria and Iraq and their humanitarian repercussions on Jordan, in addition to the importance of joining efforts to combat terrorism and extremism in the region which threaten the entire world, Petra reported.  

Stoltenberg said that his scheduled meetings with Jordanian officials reflect the strategic partnership between Jordan and NATO.

Earlier on Tuesday, Judeh delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the seminar, where he highlighted the important partnership between the Kingdom and NATO.

He also said that organising the forum in Amman is another step forward in the partnership and cooperation between the Kingdom and NATO, noting that Jordan has always been an effective partner in its efforts through participating in different missions in the Balkans, Libya, Kosovo and Afghanistan. 

As we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of launching the Mediterranean Dialogue with NATO, Jordan will maintain this partnership and develop it, Judeh said, calling for collective efforts to finding means to improve cooperation.

The foreign minister noted that the meeting is held at a time the region is witnessing several conflicts that threaten the security of the entire world.

He said the continuity of the crisis in Syria and the absence of a political solution to it have led to a sectarian conflict which paved the way for the growth of extremist ideologies and enabled them to take control of large swathes in Syria and Iraq.

This poses a direct threat to the security of Jordan and the region, he added, noting that His Majesty King Abdullah stressed at the Wales Summit the importance of finding an immediate solution to these challenges and combating destructive ideologies that target Islam and its message of moderation and tolerance.

The top diplomat said that Jordan is at the front of efforts to fight extremism and terrorism, noting that Jordanian efforts in this regard are evident in the initiatives the country launched targeting interfaith dialogue and coexistence, in addition to launching a national strategy and educational programmes to face extremism and spread awareness among the youth.