Mogherini: European Union keen on partnership with Jordan to address regional challenges

Deputy Premier, Minister of Foreign and Expatriate Affairs, Nasser Judeh, and European Union foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, Tuesday, discussed Jordan-EU partnership, developments in the region and common challenges.

Judeh told the EU's top diplomat that Jordan strongly condemns the terrorist attacks in the Belgian capital Brussels today, and voiced Jordan's solidarity with "the Belgian friends in these difficult times, and its commitment to work with all to combat terrorism and extremism".

The two sides reviewed the outcome of His Majesty King Abdullah's visit to Brussels last week and the talks he had with top EU leaders, stressing the need to build on their outcome and maintain coordination.

Judeh said Jordan appreciates aid provided by various EU institutions to the Kingdom, which "reflects the magnitude of the challenges facing Jordan and its pivotal role in dealing with the various issues".

The foreign minister and Mogherini, representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, also talked about simplifying and streamlining rules of origin by the EU and apply those to the Kingdom's qualified industrial zones in the Kingdom to encourage the flow of Jordanian products to Europe.

They also tackled ways to ramp up efforts to fight terrorist groups and ideologies through a holistic approach involving all the parties concerned.

Judeh also reiterated Jordan's support for a political solution to the Syrian crisis inclusive of all Syrians based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and the Geneva 1 Resolutions to safeguard Syria's security and territorial unity.

The minister reviewed the massive burden Jordan shoulders for hosting Syrian refugees, adding that the Kingdom aspires to see pledges made at last month's London donor conference met, in order to build its economic capacity, infrastructure and services sector to cope with the repercussions of the Syrian crisis.

Judeh also reiterated that Jordan supports attempts to relaunch serious and effective peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis to bring about the two-state solution and set up an independent and sovereign Palestinian state along June, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Mogherini emphasized the EU's willingness to develop the strategic partnership with Jordan and maintain coordination to address challenges posed to the Middle East, foremost of which is the war on terrorism and terrorist gangs and the ramifications of the Syrian crisis.

"Jordan is an important, if not the most important, partner to us as we share the vision to address the various challenges", she stressed, noting that the Kingdom is one of the countries that enjoy tremendous support by the EU to face regional and other challenges.

Judeh told a joint press conference with the EU foreign policy chief that Jordan's position is clear in condemning terrorism regardless its source or those who stand behind it, adding that terrorists carry out such acts with no regard to religion or race. 

"We are all threatened and must come together to fight terrorism and extremism", said Judeh, adding that Muslims are the biggest victims of terror, but added, no one is immune from this targeting all over the world.

Mogherini referred to King Abdullah's speech to the European Parliament months ago, when the King said "As-Salaam-Alaikum", or peace may be upon you, saying there is no stronger message to the region and Europe than his message.

She said Jordan is a strong partner to the EU with which it shares the same goals, including trying to kickstart political negotiations on the Palestinian issue, adding that the two sides are working together with the Middle East Quartet, and said proposals will be presented to build a solid basis to arrive at the two-state solution..

Source : Petra