Jordan: UNRWA should have political role

Jordanian Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said Wednesday that the UN relief agency (UNRWA) should have a political role to support the right of Palestinians to return to their homeland and not just provide humanitarian services to them. In a statement by the cabinet, Ensour made his remarks during his meeting with the Commissioner General of UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine refuges in the Near East (UNRWA) Filippo Grandi, whose term in Jordan has come to an end. The premier voiced appreciation for efforts exerted by Grandi during his work as Commissioner General in countries that host Palestinian refugees and praised the efforts of UNRWA in providing services to them in Jordan and the region in the fields of education, health, relief and social services. The two sides also called for supporting the efforts of the US Secretary of State John Kerry to achieve a tangible progress in Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations, leading to a just solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state and takes into consideration the right of return or compensation for Palestinian refugees. The Jordanian premier also discussed with the Commissioner General the situation in Syria and voiced hope that a political solution to the crisis would be achieved. For his part, Grandi expressed thanks and appreciation for the political and diplomatic support provided by Jordan to the UNRWA.