AMMAN — Jordan's Minister of Foreign Affairs and EU
high representative for foreign affairs and security policy on Monday
co-chaired the sixth regional forum of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM),
according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.
اضافة اعلان
The forum, which was held in Barcelona, Spain, saw the
participation of 42 foreign ministers of the UfM member states and EU officials,
and representatives of regional organizations.
Ayman Safadi, the foreign affairs minister, said the forum emphasizes
Jordan’s belief in it as a platform of "dialogue and cooperation,"
adding that since its creation in 2008, the sense of union between the two
banks of the Mediterranean has grown stronger.
He said there should be more cooperation between the UfM
member states to realize economic development, empower women and youth, counter
climate change, and bridge the development gap between member states.
Safadi said that to achieve development, conflict in the
region must be addressed to bring about stability and peace, stressing that there
should be concerted efforts to secure detente necessary to tackle regional
crises.
"Realizing fair peace that would be acceptable to all
peoples is a prerequisite for regional security and stability. Occupation and
peace do not go together,” said Safadi.
Adding that: “A Palestinian child wants a safe home, a
school, a playground and then a university, and he wants a job opportunity in a
free, independent, and sovereign homeland on its national soil. This is his
right as it is the right of every child in the region and the world.”
He emphasized that the two-state solution is the way to
peace, adding that undermining the two-state solution is a threat to the
region.
Regarding Syria, Safadi highlighted the destruction in Syria
brought by war, adding there should be more efforts to bring an end to the
crisis through diplomacy and politics to preserve the country's territorial
integrity.
He said that Jordan has been grappling with the challenges
of hosting and providing care for more than 1.3 million Syrian refugees amidst
dwindling international support for host countries, warning against what could
transpire as a result.
He said that refugees would not risk their lives by crossing
the Mediterranean if offered decent living conditions.
He thanked Sweden for co-organizing the International
Ministerial Summit to Support UNRWA, warning also of the dwindling support for
the UN agency that puts more than 560,000 Palestinian refugees in school.
On Libya, Safadi expressed Jordan's support for the
country's elections scheduled for December.
He also said there should be work to prevent crises before
reaching the "point of no return.” Safadi also added that Lebanon should
be supported before "slipping deeper into neediness and the absence of
horizon."
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