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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, received on Thursday an Australian parliamentary delegation, led by Chairman of the Australian-Jordanian Friendship Committee, Maria Vamvakinou, committee members, and the Australian ambassador to Jordan.

During the meeting, Safadi and the visiting delegation discussed bilateral relations and means of developing them in the economic, tourism and cultural fields, as well as regional developments.

Safadi stressed the centrality of the Palestinian cause and stressed the need for concerted efforts by the international community to break the stalemate in the peace process and to work for achieving a comprehensive peace, based on the two-state solution that addresses all final status issues and guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on June 4, 1967 lines with Jerusalem as its capital in accordance with the international legitimacy resolutions , and the Arab Peace Initiative.

On Jerusalem, the FM stressed Jordan's firm position that the holy city is a "red line" and "a final status issue," in which its destiny is determined in the final- status negotiations in accordance with the international legitimacy resolutions, in a way that guarantees East Jerusalem as the capital of the Palestinian state.

Safadi warned of the consequences of tampering with the legal and historical situation in the holy city, adding any tampering with the existing status quo is a violation of international law and a provocation to the feelings of Muslims and Christians throughout the Arab and Islamic worlds.

As for maintaining support to UNRWA, the FM stressed the need to continue to provide the necessary support to the UN agency to enable it to offer vital services to Palestinian refugees according to its UN mandate, highlighting the "catastrophic" political and life-driven consequences of any attempt to axe the role of the agency or fall short of providing it with the necessary financial support.

In regard to Syria, the FM reviewed with the delegation members the developments in the efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves the unity and cohesion of Syria, and is accepted by the Syrians in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, and creates the appropriate circumstances for the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland.

Safadi briefed the Australian delegation on the pressures the Kingdom is bearing as it is currently hosting 1.3 million Syrian refugees, 10% of whom only dwell in refugee camps.

He stressed the need for the international community to continue to shoulder its responsibility towards the refugees and the Kingdom, which is doing everything it can to meet their needs, despite the great pressure on its key sectors such as education, health and the labor market.

He stressed the importance of international cooperation in countering terrorism, which represents a common danger that is far from the true Islamic religion, the values of peace and respect for others.

For their part, the delegation members stressed their keenness to develop cooperation with the Kingdom, praising the main role of His Majesty King Abdullah II to achieve regional security and stability.

The delegation also hailed the Kingdom's role in hosting the refugees despite its difficult economic circumstances.