France an important partner for Jordan — ambassador

AMMAN — French Ambassador to Jordan David Bertolotti on Wednesday stressed the importance of His Majesty King Abdullah’s meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron last month, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

Bertolotti noted that His Majesty was the first Arab leader to meet the new president since his election in May.

During the meeting with King Abdullah, Macron highlighted the strength of the relationship between the two countries, especially in their shared perspective towards the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, the Syrian crisis and the situation in Iraq, the ambassador said.

He added that French investments in Jordan amount to 1.5 billion euros, with French companies and their Jordanian branches employing around 6,300 Jordanian workers.

Bertolotti expressed his country’s keenness to increase investments in the Kingdom and to expand in to new sectors, such as technology and health.

He stressed France’s support to Jordan in light of the difficult regional circumstances. 

The French Development Agency’s programme for 2016- 2018 includes providing 900 million euros in aid, 600 million euros as sovereign loans to the government and 300 million euros to the private sector and local government units, such as Greater Amman Municipality. 

The ambassador highlighted the bilateral military cooperation, especially between the countries’ air forces, stressing that this cooperation aims to enhance Jordan’s capabilities in combating terrorism. 

He praised the role Jordanian counter-terrorism efforst, especially against the Daesh terror group.

On the Palestinian issue, which he deemed a “core issue”, Bertolotti stressed France’s “unwavering” stance and noted the need for the Palestinian people to obtain their rights. 

He called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state that can co-exist with Israel. 

The ambassador stressed the need to move towards a peace agreement, in light of the Israeli settlement expansion, which jeopardises the peace efforts, highlighting the importance of the Paris conference held last year with the participation of 70 countries and organisations.