Jordan, Finland explore closer ties

Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Ibrahim Saif and his Finnish counterpart Pekka Haavisto on Saturday discussed ways to cement ties between Jordan and Finland in the areas of economy and development. Saif thanked Helsinki for its humanitarian support of Syrian refugees, noting the current economic challenges and the humanitarian and financial repercussions faced by Jordan due to regional turmoil as it hosts a large number of displaced Syrians. The refugees’ exodus, he said, had placed new economic and social burdens on the state budget in addition to exerting pressure on infrastructure, services, water, education and health sectors, particularly in host communities in northern and central Jordan. Saif expressed the hope that Jordan would explore ways and means to cement cooperation with Finland in various areas. Haavisto, who is on a regional tour to learn first-hand about the humanitarian impact of the Syrian refugee crisis, emphasised the deep ties with Jordan and said Helsinki would pursue support to the Kingdom and the Middle East regarding the issue of Syrian refugees. The Finnish minister of International Development will visit Lebanon and Turkey and participate in an international aid conference on Syria due to be held in mid January in Kuwait. During his current tour, Haavisto will meet political leaders of those countries and the representatives of the United Nations relief agencies and tour refugee communities in Lebanon as displaced Syrians faced a third winter with half of the country's population desperately needing humanitarian assistance. According to estimates, some three million Syrians have fled to neighboring countries, 2.3 million of whom have been registered as refugees, in one of the biggest refugee crises in recent history. With no end in sight to the conflict, the U.N. expects the number of refugees to rise to over four million by the end of this year. Finland has donated €20 million in humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees since 2011 in addition to support of programs by U.N. agencies as well as offering financial support and expertise to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons for destruction of Syria's chemical weapons arsenal.