AMMAN, JORDAN – Jordan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi on Wednesday briefed his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the outcome of a consultative meeting held here on Syria.
In addition to Jordan, the meeting on Tuesday also brought together the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt and Syria.
In the telephonic discussion, Safadi emphasized on the significance of the Arab initiative to tackle the Syrian crisis and to address its humanitarian, security and political implications.
He underscored the need to adopt a step-by-step methodology aligned with Security Council Resolution 2254, in conjunction with the Jordanian and Saudi initiatives and other Arab endeavors.
He stressed that the political solution must preserve Syria’s unity, cohesion, sovereignty, meet the aspirations of the people and rid the country of terrorism.
Safadi said the solution must end the presence of militias and armed groups, lead to the exit of foreign forces from Syria, and provide conditions for the voluntary and safe return of refugees to their country.
The minister also stressed the importance of keeping border crossings open for the entry of humanitarian aid to all those in need in Syria, in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions.
In the joint statement released after Tuesday’s meeting, Safadi, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, said confronting cross-border drug smuggling is a priority and called for taking practical and effective steps to combat it.
He explained the importance of taking practical and tangible steps to implement all the outcomes of the meeting’s joint statement.
Safadi stressed the importance of cooperation with Russia and its important role in efforts to resolve the crisis and address repercussions on Syria and the region.
Lavrov welcomed the Amman consultative meeting and its outcomes, stressing that Russia supports the Arab effort launched by the meeting to reach a political solution that ends the Syrian crisis and addresses all related issues and repercussions.