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    07-Jan-2020

Red Sea, Gulf of Aden border countries form council

 

The Jordan Times

 

AMMAN — Arab and African countries bordering the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden launched a new council on Monday, in a bid to enhance regional cooperation and coordination.
 
Foreign ministers of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Yemen, Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia and Eritrea signed the council's charter in Riyadh on Monday to be submitted to the heads of states for endorsement,  according to a Foreign Ministry statement.
 
During the meeting, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi highlighted the importance of the bloc's charter, pointing out that establishing the council in light of the region's challenging conditions, is a message that "our countries seek cooperation and dialogue as the means of achieving development and building stability".
 
He also valued Saudi efforts towards establishing the council, expressing appreciation for the interaction of member states of the regional council, notably Egypt's positive steps towards developing a framework for comprehensive economic, political, defence and environment cooperation.   
 
The council aims at achieving 12 goals set to enhance political, economic, cultural, environment and security cooperation and coordination among the member states.
 
The objectives include advancing coordination between the political stances of member states, as well as fostering security cooperation to reduce the risks facing the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, which enhances the safety of international navigation, and preventing all threats related to financing acts of terrorism, piracy, smuggling, cross-border crimes and illegal immigration.
 
The bloc also aims at improving the economic, trade and investment ties among member states, as well as enhancing maritime shipping, movement of goods, services and money among the members, as well as bolstering cooperation among the ports of member states and transit trade.
 
The council also aims to enhance cooperation with countries that do not share a border with the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, as well as regional and international organisations.
 
Safadi conveyed His Majesty King Abdullah’s greetings to Saudi King Salman, reiterating Jordan’s supportive stance towards Saudi Arabia, according to another Foreign Ministry statement.
 
King Salman in turn, during his reception of the foreign ministers, expressed his greetings to King Abdullah.
 
Ahead of the meeting of the Council of Arab and African countries bordering the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, Safadi met his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud over advancing the two kingdoms’ historical strategic ties and the latest regional developments.
 
The two sides expressed readiness to advance cooperation and bolster brotherly ties, highlighting the importance of intensifying efforts to overcome regional crises and de-escalate tensions, as well as building regional relations based on the principles of neighbourly and non-intervention in Arab countries’ internal affairs. 
 
Safadi also expressed Jordan’s “absolute support” to Saudi efforts to maintain their security and stability, highlighting that King Abdullah has stressed that Saudi security is an integral part of Jordan’s security, and valuing Riyadh’s support to Amman. 
 
Earlier on Sunday, Safadi met his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry, and the two sides reaffirmed the continuous efforts to deepen cooperation and coordination, in implementation of King Abdullah’s and President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi’s directives.
 
Safadi and Shoukry discussed means of addressing the latest regional developments to avoid further tensions and the repercussions of escalation. 
 
Safadi on Monday discussed with his Sudanese counterpart Asma Abdullah means of enhancing joint cooperation, with the two sides stressing that the details of the practical steps will be discussed in an upcoming meeting to be held in Khartoum.
 
Safadi reiterated the Kingdom’s supportive stance towards Sudan’s democratic transformation.
 
 

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