Safadi : Ceasefire in southern Syria a priority

Jordan

Published: 2018-06-29 14:37

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 20:02


Ayman Safadi talking to reporters after the meeting (UN)
Ayman Safadi talking to reporters after the meeting (UN)

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, affirmed that the developments in southern Syria topped the agenda of his discussion with UN Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres in New York on Thursday.

He asserted that Jordan has been following the events with “extreme concern” and confirmed that the Kingdom is engaged in ongoing discussions with all the parties, indicating that he will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on July 4 in order to continue the conversation.

“Our top priority is to reach a cease fire to ensure a collective international mechanism to provide protection to civilians within Syria,” Safadi told reporters after the meeting.

In regards to cross-border humanitarian aid needs to Syria, Safadi insisted that the focus should be on addressing them within Syria rather than considering other options, which is “doable from within Syria”.

“We believe there is an urgent need for the international community to come together at this point,” Safadi explained adding that although Jordan was thankful for the financial support it has received, the cost of hosting over 1.3 million Syrians in Jordan was largely absorbed by the country.

Palestine and UNRWA were the other two topics discussed by Guterres and Safadi, with the latter reiterating Jordan’s firm stance that calls for ending the Israeli occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital as the only way to achieve lasting peace.

Read more: Jordan will not receive Syrian refugees under any circumstances