Judeh, Russian counterpart discuss ties, region

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriate Affairs Nasser Judeh met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov here on Monday to discuss bilateral ties and the latest developments in the Middle East. The visit comes as part of the continuing consultations between the two countries as they mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. The two officials discussed the Palestinian-Israeli peace talks, with Judeh reiterating Jordan’s position that underlines the establishment of an independent Palestinian state as a prime national interest, based on the Kingdom’s vital concern about the final status issues. Lavrov, on his part, affirmed that an independent Palestinian state is also a matter of national interest for Russia. Further, they discussed the latest developments in Egypt and the efforts to maintain security and stability of Egypt to avert any further escalation. Jordan, under the leadership of King Abdullah, stands besides Egypt in its efforts to impose the rule of law, recover and restore peace and security of its people, the minister said. He added that the Kingdom rejects all attempts to interfere in the African nation’s internal affairs. The ministers also discussed Syria, where Judeh again affirmed Jordan’s stance which calls for a political solution that puts an end to violence, guarantees security and safety of Syria and preserves its territorial unity in a process that includes all segments of the Syrian fabric. They underlined the importance of implementing Geneva 1 Declaration and ensuring a smooth political transition in Syria. Further, Judeh briefed his Russian counterpart about the humanitarian repercussions of the Syrian crisis on Jordan and the huge burden being borne by the Kingdom for hosting hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees. He called on the international community to help Jordan to continue playing its humanitarian role towards the refugees. The Russian official valued the efforts being exerted by Jordan under the leadership of King Abdullah to realize peace and security in the Middle East. He voiced support for these efforts, which are highly recognized by the international community.