Damascus, SANA- In the presence of ministers from both countries, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad al-Shaibani and Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a Higher Coordination Council between Syria and Jordan.
The council aims to enhance cooperation in water, energy, economy, and transportation, and support the reconstruction of Syria through an ambitious roadmap.
“Today, bilateral discussions took place in the fields of energy, transportation, and economy. We also signed a memorandum of understanding announcing a higher coordination council between the two countries. We will oversee enhancing coordination not only with these tracks but with all relevant ministries. There will be other meetings, perhaps in Amman or Damascus, as well as bilateral meetings between counterpart ministries. Periodic reports on the outcome of these meetings will be submitted to the leaderships of the two countries,” al-Shaibani said in a joint press conference with Mr. al-Safadi at Tishreen Palace in Damascus.
“Our diplomatic efforts were crowned by lifting European sanctions, days after the lifting of American sanctions.” Al-Shaibani said.
He added “We signed an agreement to establish a higher coordination council to enhance joint action to serve the interests of our two countries.”
Al-Shaibani explained that Syria and Jordan face common security threats, and “our relations with it promises future prosperity.”
He stressed that lifting US and European sanctions would have positive impacts on Syria and the region.
Al-Shaibani went on to say that”Economic coordination with Jordan began from the first day after the liberation.”
“Lifting sanctions on Syria will help boost that cooperation in the areas of transportation, energy, and all other fields,” the Minister added.
Al-Shaibani stressed that “the Israeli attacks on Syria pose threat not only to Syria, but the entire region and represent a blatant violation of international laws, and from the first day, we wanted a stable Syria, as the Syrian people are fed up with wars.”
He pointed out that ‘’Syria is talking with the United States, Europe and all countries in order to oblige Israel to implement the 1974 agreement.”
Al-Shaibani stresssed that syria appreciates Jordan’s position rejecting Israeli interventions in Syria, which poses threat to the entire region.
He explained that the Syrian diplomacy, from the first day, adopted an open approach with everyone in a way that serves the Syrian people, and ” we conveyed their aspirations and needs with all sincerity and honesty and after 14 years we want to focus on security and stability.”
The Minister pointed out that “Syria has common borders with Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon and we want to preserve their security and confront what would pose threat to them, as our security is linked to the security of neighboring countries.”
For his part, Minister al-Safadi said: We are keen on strengthening the fraternal relations that unite our two countries through comprehensive cooperation that would be positively reflected on all of us, adding “our presence here, upon the directives of King Abdullah II, is to build integrated relations with Syria, and today is an important day of achievement and we agreed on a road map to activate cooperation in the fields of energy, transportation, water and health.”
He explained that Syria is going through a historical stage and Jordan will support Syria until it reaches the building of a free, stable, and secure the country for all its citizens, whose stability constitutes a pillar for the stability of the entire region.
Al-Safadi stressed that “Israel” must respect Syria’s sovereignty and end its occupation of all Syrian lands.
khadega /Reem Safi/Mazen Eyon
