AMMAN — Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates in the caretaker government Ayman Safadi on Wednesday met with the Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Coveney and discussed with him means of enhancing bilateral relations and regional developments, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

 

The two ministers emphasised the existence of broad prospects for enhancing cooperation in economic and trade fields, and agreed to find institutional frameworks through which specialists will discuss cooperation and exchange of experiences in agriculture, education and information technology, as well as discussing ways to enhance trade and investment cooperation.

 

Safadi and Coveney also reviewed regional developments, especially those related to the Palestinian issue and the Syrian crisis. The foreign minister stressed that the continuation of the Israeli occupation and the absence of prospects for its demise threaten to push the region towards further escalation and conflict. The two ministers agreed on the importance of concerted efforts to break the deadlock in the peace efforts and start a real and effective effort to resolve the conflict on the basis of the two-state solution and in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy.

 

Safadi explained to the Irish minister the burdens on the Kingdom as a result of hosting 1.3 million Syrian refugees, only about 10 per cent of whom are in refugee camps. He said such a situation strains the sectors of education, health, labour and others.

 

Safadi also warned of the negative effects of the significant decline in international support for refugees and reductions in the allocations of United Nations organisations cooperating with the Kingdom to take care of their affairs.

 

Coveney valued Jordan’s “great humanitarian role” in hosting Syrian refugees and stressed the need for the international community to continue to provide the necessary support to meet their needs. 

 

The Irish minister, who visited the Zaatari refugee camp in Mafraq governorate, praised the quality and multitude of services provided by Jordan to refugees.

 

The two ministers agreed to maintain communication and political consultation between their two countries to serve the mutual interests and enhance opportunities for cooperation at the bilateral level and within the EU framework, in addition to coordination in their efforts to combat terrorism and promote global peace and security.