Jordan, UN discuss solution to Syrian crisis

QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Jordan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi met, yesterday, the UN Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen and discussed efforts to achieve a political solution to the Syrian crisis.

In a statement published on its official media outlets, the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the meeting was held at the ministry’s building in the capital, Amman.

During the meeting, they discussed ways to intensify efforts to reach a political solution to the crisis in Syria and address its consequences, the statement added.

The past months witnessed a remarkable development in Syrian-Jordanian relations after years of political tension between them, as Damascus accused Amman of supporting terrorism on its territories. 

Safadi emphasized the importance of systematic and effective action towards a political solution to the crisis, according to the statement.

Jordan will continue its efforts, in cooperation with the UN, as well as regional and international partners, to preserve Syria’s unity and cohesion, restore its security and stability, defeat terrorism, and create conducive conditions for the voluntary return of refugees, Safadi said.

He warned against the declining support for refugees and refugee-host countries, stressing that offering decent life for refugees is a shared responsibility for the international communities.

It is noteworthy that Jordan hosts about 650,000 Syrian refugees according to UN recordings, while Amman estimates the number of those who have sought refuge in it since the outbreak of the war in Syria at about 1.3 million, of whom 750,000 resided in the country before 2011, by virtue of family relations, intermarriage and commercial relations.

UN Special Envoy for Syria Pedersen described the efforts regarding making progress in finding a political solution for Syria to the Jordanian Minster. 

He also discussed the outcomes of the last meeting of the Syrian Constitutional Committee in the Swiss city of Geneva.

Last month, Jordan offered a proposal for solving the crisis in Syria, and coordination with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to the countries concerned with the Syrian issue, on the margins of the UN General Assembly meetings, weeks ago.