Foreign minister conveys King’s message to Egypt president

AMMAN — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Saturday received Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi as well as Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al Maliki before their tripartite meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry to discuss regional developments, especially those pertaining to the Palestinian cause. 

Safadi conveyed His Majesty King Abdullah’s greetings to Sisi and his message, which reaffirmed “the depth of the brotherly relations” between the two countries and discussed handling regional developments in line with shared interests and in service of Arab causes, foremost of which is the Palestinian cause, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

Sisi also conveyed greetings to His Majesty, reiterating the “solid ties” with the Kingdom and the institutionalisation of coordination and consultation between the two countries. 

In the following ministerial meeting, the three ministers stressed that international resolutions pertaining to legitimacy, most recently the UN Security Council Resolution 2334, and the Arab Peace Initiative represent the approved references for negotiations, considering negotiation the only means to establish peace. 

Discussions touched on joint action to return to “serious and effective” negotiations to realise a fair and comprehensive peace according to the two-state solution, which guarantees the establishment of the independent, sovereign and geographically conjoined Palestinian state, living in peace and prosperity with Israel, on the June 4, 1967, lines with East Jerusalem as its capital. 

The ministers warned against illegitimate Israeli actions, considering them a violation of international law and agreeing to steps to rally international condemnation against these violations. 

They also urged cease Israel’s violations targeting the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and altering the legal and historical status quo, reiterating that that Al Aqsa Mosque, with its total area of 144 dunums, is a place of worship for Muslims only stressing the importance of the Hashemite Custodianship of the city and its holy sites. 

The ministers apprised of the repercussions of the financial crisis facing the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East on the services and jobs offered for Palestinian refugees.  

They also expressed appreciation towards the support provided for the agency and urged for taking action to bridge its budget deficit, agreeing to continue holding tripartite meetings at the current “critical” stage.