Amman, Jordan – The second session of the Higher Coordination Council between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Syrian Arab Republic began this morning, Sunday, in the Jordanian capital, Amman, at the ministerial level. The meetings were chaired by Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, and his Syrian counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Asaad Shaibani. This comes amidst aspirations to strengthen bilateral cooperation towards a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Ministerial delegations and 20 vital sectors
The council meetings are being held with the participation of two high-level ministerial delegations representing 20 vital sectors. The discussions aim to deepen fraternal relations and transform them into a strategic partnership encompassing the fields of economy, trade, and major development projects. The two ministers were scheduled to hold a press conference at 3:00 PM to announce the results of the deliberations and the agreements reached.
This session follows up on the memorandum of understanding signed by Safadi and Shibani to establish and activate the council. This decision was agreed upon during Safadi’s historic visit to Damascus in April 2015. The council’s first session was also held in Damascus in May of the same year, with the participation of ministers from sovereign and service sectors in both countries.
Presidential reception and reaffirmation of unity and sovereignty
Prior to the start of the council’s proceedings, Jordanian Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan received the participating Syrian ministerial delegation. During the meeting, Hassan emphasized the importance of building upon the achievements of the previous session. He stressed the need to capitalize on available opportunities in strategic sectors such as water, transportation, energy, ports, and railway connectivity.
The Prime Minister noted the significant positive impact of the Coordination Council on trade and mutual security. He also reiterated Jordan’s unwavering position, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, in support of Syria’s unity, sovereignty, and stability. Hassan emphasized unequivocally: “Syria’s success is Jordan’s success, and we are committed to providing all our resources to support our Syrian brothers and sisters in various fields.”
Syria is keen to enhance cooperation
For his part, Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani expressed his country’s deep appreciation for Jordan’s positions under the leadership of His Majesty the King. He also commended Jordan’s continued support for Syria in its efforts to restore stability and rebuild its institutions. Al-Shaibani affirmed Damascus’s commitment to exerting every possible effort to achieve “the best possible level of cooperation that serves the interests of both countries and their brotherly peoples.”
It is worth noting that the technical committees from both sides held intensive preparatory meetings on Saturday. This was done to establish the legal and technical frameworks for the issues to be presented to the Council, reflecting the seriousness of both parties in moving relations from the stage of diplomatic coordination to a stage of comprehensive economic and field integration.
