His Majesty King Abdullah of Jordan received on Monday German Federal Minister of Defense Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer to discuss bolstering the strategic partnership between Jordan and Germany, especially in defense.
During the meeting, King Abdullah expressed appreciation for the support Germany provides to Jordan in various fields, Petra news agency reported.
The meeting also covered the latest regional developments and efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region, as well as international efforts to fight terrorism within a holistic approach, and the importance of enhancing cooperation and coordination in this regard.
Adviser to His Majesty for Communication and Coordination Bisher Khasawneh, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Major General Yousef Hneiti, German Ambassador to Jordan Birgitta Siefker-Eberle, and a number of parliament members and the delegation accompanying the German minister attended the meeting.
For his part, Jordan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants Ayman Safadi separately discussed with the visiting German Defense Minister the latest regional developments, including the Palestinian issue, and ways to enhance Jordanian-German ties and coordination on these challenges.
Safadi told a joint press conference with the German Minister after the meeting that Jordan and Germany maintained a strong partnership, which translates into broad economic and defense cooperation, noting that Germany is the second largest donor to Jordan, and praising its support for the Kingdom to shoulder the burden of the Syrian refugee crisis.
He also recognized Germany's firm support of the two-state solution as the only way to solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and achieve comprehensive peace, and thanked Berlin for its commitment to provide aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
Safadi also underlined Germany’s key role in combating terrorism, which, he said, is a common enemy that continues to pose a security and ideological threat and which requires a collective effort by the international community within the framework of the international coalition to fight Daesh gangs.
Citing His Majesty King Abdullah that terrorism was defeated, but not destroyed, Safadi said that the fight against terrorism, “which we fight to protect our common security, interests and values,” is not over and that continued cooperation is needed toward that end.
The Foreign Minister said that he discussed with the German Minister the Syrian crisis, stressing that efforts should be stepped up to reach a political solution that safeguards the country's unity, restores its security and stability and creates the conditions for the voluntary return of refugees.
The German Minister, who was accompanied by a high-level delegation including German parliamentarians, hailed the solid relations between her country and Jordan and the Kingdom's key role in efforts to achieve regional security and stability as well as its humanitarian role in hosting Syrian refugees.
She said that the two-state solution through negotiations is the only path to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
