Jordanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, met the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on September 15, 2018 in Abu Dhabi.

The two Ministers discussed issues of mutual concern to their countries and among them the financial problems currently facing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Both parties highlighted the importance in ensuring that UNRWA continues to provide services to refugees, reported Petra. Safadi praised UAE for providing support to UNRWA while Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan thanked Jordan for exerting efforts in order to gather the financial and political support needed to help UNRWA overcome its deficit.

The two parties affirmed keenness to increase bilateral relations while the UAE Minister stressed on the importance of his country continuing to support Jordan.

The Ministers also talked about the latest developments in the region, specifically the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the progress towards a two-state solution. Issues also included the Syrian crisis and the importance of reaching a solution in which the stability and unity of Syria is preserved.

UNRWA

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949. It currently offers education to more than 500,000 refugee students in more than 700 schools. The Agency also offers healthcare as well as food and cash assistance programs throughout the region, serving a total of 5.3 million Palestinian refugees.