Jordan PM discusses ties, Mideast with Belgian deputy PM

Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour discussed on Monday with Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Joelle Milquet the means of forging closer bilateral ties, as well as developments in the Middle East, mainly the Syrian crisis and its repercussions on neighboring countries.At the meeting, which was also attended by Interior Minister Hussein Majali and the Belgian Ambassador to Jordan Thomas Baekelandt, Ensour emphasized the strong ties between the two countries, noting that Jordan was interested in promoting ties with Belgium whether on the bilateral level or through the European Union.“Failure to find a just solution to the Palestinian issue was the reason behind all the problems and crises that the Middle East witnessed over more than half a century,” he said, noting that this should prompt the international community, the EU and the US Administration to intensify their efforts to arrive at a permanent and just solution to the Palestinian issue.Jordan, he added, was capable of preserving security and stability despite turbulence in the region as well as its borders with neighboring countries, noting that this puts additional burden on the Kingdom.The interior minister said that problems facing the region including the crisis in Syria, are not just about their security aspects but also about their social and economic repercussions as well as the burden they place on health and educational services.The Belgian minister urged the international community to exert further efforts to solve the crisis in Syria and provide assistance to countries hosting the Syrian refugees.She also stressed the need to find a just solution to the Palestinian issue, noting that Jordan is an important element in the security and stability of the region.