Safadi takes part in Arab Ministerial Contact Group meeting to resolve Ukraine crisis

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi participated in the meeting held by the Arab Ministerial Contact Group, which was formed by the Arab League to work towards resolving the crisis in Ukraine.

The Arab delegation includes Egypt as chair, and Jordan, the UAE, Algeria, Sudan, and Iraq, in addition to the Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The delegation, which will meet with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Poland tomorrow on Wednesday, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the crisis developments, the outcomes of the Russian-Ukrainian talks and the security, humanitarian, political and economic consequences of the crisis.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that the Arab delegation's undertaking of this move stems from the Arab world's pride in its ties with Russia and Ukraine, its understanding of the seriousness of the current situation, and its concern about the effects of this crisis on people in and outside the conflict zone, and on international peace and security. 

The deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the conflict zone has resulted in negative consequences that extend to various economic levels, including global energy and food security, Shoukry said in a statement he delivered on behalf of the group during the joint press conference with Lavrov and Aboul Gheit, following the meeting.

He added that the meeting saw “clear discussions” on ways to deal with this “delicate situation”, during which the Arab delegates expressed concern about the extension of the current crisis, and called on all parties involved in the conflict to stop the escalation and military action. 

He called for immediately resorting to peaceful and diplomatic solutions based on dialogue.

He stated that the Arab delegation called for the continuation of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, voicing readiness to carry out mediation efforts to support direct negotiations between the sides, with the aim to reach an urgent halt to the ongoing military operations. 

The Egyptian minister also expressed the group's readiness to play a role in starting discussions on a number of confidence-building measures, paving the way for launching a framework for a sustainable political solution to this crisis; within a framework of respect for the principles of international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and the sovereignty of states, in a way that leads to dealing with the roots of the crisis.

Shoukry pointed out that the Arab delegation also stressed the importance of continuing coordination to maintain the security and safety of the Arab communities who currently reside in the conflict zone, and to facilitate the crossing of those wishing to move to neighbouring countries. 

He added that the two sides also discussed ways to overcome the economic consequences of this crisis and to ensure that it does not affect peoples of the region and beyond.

Lavrov welcomed the Arab delegation, noting that they discussed a number of issues besides the developments of the crisis in Ukraine. 

Lavrov added that the Palestinian cause was also discussed, and he reaffirmed his country's firm position that all final status issues can be resolved through direct negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis.