Amman, February 9 (Petra)- Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi on Sunday met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin, and Russian President’s Special Envoy to Syria Alexander Lavrentiev and an accompanying delegation.
Safadi and the Russian officials discussed steps taken by the two countries to develop bilateral cooperation and build on the outcome of a summit held by His Majesty King Abdullah II and President Vladimir Putin last year.
The talks dealt with developments in the Middle East, especially the efforts made to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis. In this context, Safadi stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to end the crisis through a political solution that preserves Syria’s unity and cohesion, restores its security and stability, and opens the door for national reconciliation.
The minister emphasized that any solution to the Syrian crisis must provide for the voluntary return of refugees so that Syria can regain its main role in the region.
The minister and the Russian officials stressed the need for continued cooperation in combating terrorism, which constitutes a common enemy that the international community must strive to defeat militarily and ideologically.
Safadi and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin also discussed the latest developments in southern Syria. In this regard, Safadi emphasized the need to work to further establish stability in southern Syria and create conditions to encourage the voluntary return of refugees, stressing the importance of the Russian role in this context.
The Russian delegation briefed the minister on the latest developments in the Syrian north, particularly in Idlib governorate.
The minister stressed the necessity of working to reduce escalation and protect civilians.
Safadi and Russian officials also underscored the effective Jordanian-Russian coordination regarding the crisis in Syria, which contributed to avoiding further destruction in the southern part of the country and working to institutionalize mechanisms for coordinating the voluntary return of refugees.
The meeting also addressed regional developments, especially with regard to the Palestinian issue.
In this context, the minister appreciated Russia’s firm stance in supporting the two-state solution and relevant international legitimacy resolutions. He warned that Israel’s continued unilateral measures violate international law undermine the two-state solution that would guarantee the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on pre-June 4, 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital.
In turn, Vershinin highlighted Jordan’s effort, spearheaded by His Majesty King Abdullah II, to achieve regional security and stability, noting the Kingdom’s humanitarian role towards the Syrian refugees.