Assad, Jordan’s FM discuss refugee return, bilateral relations

DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi in the Syrian capital Damascus on Monday to discuss the issue of Syrian refugees’ return and the bilateral relations between Jordan and Syria.

Safadi arrived in Damascus earlier today on an official visit, during which he is scheduled to also meet with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad. This marks Safadi’s second visit to Syria in five months.

During the meeting, al-Assad said that “the safe return of Syrian refugees to their villages and towns is a priority for the Syrian state, with the need to secure the infrastructure for this return and the requirements for reconstruction and rehabilitation with all its forms, and to support it with early recovery projects that enable the returnees to restore their normal life,” reported state-run SANA news agency.

He added that all of the measures taken by the Syrian state, whether at the legislative or legal level or in terms of reconciliations, contribute to providing the best environment for the return of refugees.

Meanwhile, Safadi presented the latest efforts made by Jordan regarding the issue of refugees and the new proposals that have emerged in this regard in coordination with the Arab Contact Group and the United Nations.

Safadi emphasized that Jordan supports stability in Syria and that his country is ready to work with the Syrian government “in bilateral domains that enhance cooperation between the two countries and contribute to the return of Syrian refugees.”