Safadi, Russian presidential envoy meet over solutions to Syria crisis

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on Wednesday met with Russian Special Presidential Envoy for Syria Alexander Lavrentiev, with talks focusing on the necessity of enhancing Syrian security and stability, as well as addressing challenges related to drug smuggling from Syria to the Kingdom.

Lavrentiev, heading a high-level joint delegation that includes a number of senior officials from the Russian foreign and defence ministries, is visiting the Kingdom to follow-up on to the outcomes of the Russian Foreign Minister’s visit to Amman last November, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Threats posed by drug trafficking, terrorism and militias are all dangers facing Jordan, Safadi said, stressing the importance of stabilising southern Syria and noting that the Kingdom is taking all necessary measures to confront these threats. The foreign minister further expressed Jordan's keenness to cooperate with Russia to put an end to these risks.

Russia is a stabilising factor in southern Syria, Safadi said, highlighting the importance of the Russian role as a guarantor of stability in the 2018 de-escalation agreements.

"Reaching a political solution that ends the Syrian crisis, fulfils the aspirations of the Syrian people, ends terrorism, maintains Syria’s unity and territorial integrity, restores peace and stability, and ensures the voluntary return of refugees in accordance with UN Resolution 2254, is a top priority for Jordan," Safadi said.

 During the meeting, Safadi acquainted the Russian envoy with the Kingdom's proposal to have Arab nations take a leading role in efforts towards resolving the crisis through direct engagement with Syria.

Both sides emphasised the importance of Jordanian-Russian coordination to address the challenges in southern Syria and the necessity of working towards a political solution to the Syrian crisis in accordance with UN Resolution 2254. 

Safadi also welcomed the UN Security Council's adoption of Resolution 2672, which allows for the delivery of UN cross-border aid into Syria, serving more than 4.1 million Syrians.

Expressing appreciation for the Kingdom's role in support of a political solution that ends the Syrian crisis, in addition to hosting Syrian refugees, the Russian envoy expressed his country's readiness to cooperate with the Kingdom to confront challenges in southern Syria, notably drug trafficking and instability.

Safadi and the guest delegation drew attention to the importance of continuing support for the efforts of Geir Pedersen, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, in pushing the political process forward.