Srour , US ambassador discuss ties, region

Lower House Speaker Saad Hayel Srour met on Wednesday with US Ambassador to Jordan Stuart Jones to discuss the situation in the Middle East, with particular focus on the Syrian crisis, the Palestinian issue, and bilateral ties and ways of boosting them. Srour spoke about the burden being shouldered by Jordan as a result of the situation in Syria and noted the daily influx of Syrian refugees into the Kingdom. He said communities hosting Syrian refugees, especially those in the northern governorates, were suffering since the refugees were placing increasing pressure on the water, health, and education sectors and on the area’s infrastructure. The speaker urged the international community to shoulder its responsibility to provide aid to these communities to ease the impact of the growing numbers of refugees. He also praised the United States’ support of Jordan in various fields, primarily through the relief aid it offers to the displaced Syrians. Srour reviewed the efforts exerted by Jordan to secure peace in the region and to implement reforms to ensure a better future for Jordanians. The ambassador praised Jordan’s role in attempting to secure peace and stability in the Middle East as well as the Kingdom’s efforts in hosting the Syrian refugees.