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Gov’t dismisses claims of meddling in Syrian conflict

By Khetam Malkawi - Apr 04,2015 - Last updated at Apr 04,2015

AMMAN — Jordan will not and is not interfering in the conflict between the Syrian regime and the armed opposition, and these factions should come together and solve their problems rather than accuse others of meddling in their affairs, the government said Saturday.


Spokesperson Mohammad Momani, who is also minister of state for media affairs and communications, said Jordan is not training Syrians to kill their own people; rather, the Kingdom was one of the first countries to provide shelter for refugees despite its limited resources.


The minister’s remarks to The Jordan Times came in response to a statement by Bahjat Suleiman, the former Syrian ambassador to Jordan, who accused the Kingdom of being part of an attack against Syria.


In a post on his Facebook page, Suleiman — whom Jordan has declared persona non grata — accused Amman of “crossing the red line” in alleged attacks against Syria, threatening retribution against the Kingdom.


Jordan expelled Suleiman last May due to his “repeated insults and offences” targeting Jordan and its leadership, institutions and citizens.
Pro-regime media outlets in Syria claim that Jordan has supported opposition troops in the city of Idlib, the border town of Nasib and the Yarmouk Refugee Camp, south of Damascus.


Momani said Jordan has always been supportive of a political solution to the Syrian crisis and is not interfering in Syria’s internal affairs, dismissing any claims otherwise.


As for the closure of the Jaber border crossing with Syria, the minister said the decision was taken to protect lives due to unrest on the Syrian side of the border.
He added that the border will remain closed until calm is restored on the other side.

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