Spain, Jordan reaffirm strategic ties

AMMAN — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation Arancha González Laya held talks in Madrid on Monday that focused on improving bilateral relations and instilling the Jordanian-European relations, as well as the latest regional developments.

The two ministers stressed the strategic relations between Amman and Madrid and their desire to foster Jordanian-Spanish ties to best serve the interests of both countries and peoples, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

Safadi praised Spain’s decision to classify the Kingdom within the green list to increase tourist and commercial exchange, in light of the recent EU decision to lift COVID-19 travel restrictions that were imposed on Jordan.

He also highlighted Jordan’s current cooperation with Spain in multiple fields and stressed the importance of sustaining cooperation in the economic, development, investment, commercial and tourist fields.

Laya praised the “solid” Jordanian-Spanish relations and voiced her country’s keenness to advance cooperation in all fields, commending the Kingdom’s role in realising regional peace and stability and its humanitarian role in hosting refugees.

The two ministers also went over the latest regional developments, mainly those pertaining to the Palestinian issue, and stressed the importance of reaching a political solution to realise a just and comprehensive peace.

In this regard, Safadi said that a political solution is the only means to reach the two-state solution and establish an independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its capital. He praised Madrid’s stance in supporting the two-state solution.

He also highlighted the importance of maintaining the truce in the occupied Palestinian territories and for Israel to not commit any escalatory procedures that might fuel conflict again, mainly those related to building settlements, demolishing houses and forcible displacement.

They also reviewed efforts to reach a political solution in Syria based on the UN Security Council Resolution No. 2254, where Safadi urged the international community to bear its responsibility to protect refugees and provide the necessary support to host countries and communities.

He also reiterated the importance of supporting the Iraqi government in its efforts to uphold security and stability in the country.