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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Deputy Premier, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Affairs, Nasser Judeh, and visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry met Sunday for talks on Jordanian-US ties and developments in the Middle East, including efforts to put an end to the suffering of Syrian people.

Kerry announced in Amman that the United States and Russia were close to an agreement to cease hostilities in Syria.

During the meeting, the two ministers underlined the historic, deep-rooted and strategic Jordanian-US relations in various fields and agreed to continue coordination. They stressed the importance of a visit that His Majesty King Abdullah II will pay to Washington this week for talks with President Barack Obama and US officials at different levels on the strategic ties and the situation in the region.

Judeh reiterated Jordan's constant position the Kingdom had adopted since the start of the Syrian conflict, supporting a political solution that guarantees Syria's security, safety and territorial integrity and inclusive of all components of the Syrian people.

He stressed the importance of a comprehensive solution according to UN Security Council resolution 2254, the Geneva 1 proposals and statements issued by the international support group for Syria in its meetings in Vienna, New York and recently in Munich.

Judeh and his US counterpart also focused on the outcome of a donor conference on Syria held in London earlier this month, noting that the gathering was a key juncture as the world relealised that the subject of migration is not just a socioeconomic issue, but is a political issue as well, and that a political solution is the approach to a humanitarian solution.

He cited King Abdullah's reiteration that Jordan is carrying out this task toward refugees on behalf of the entire humanity, and that humanity is duty-bound to rise to aid Jordan in this endeavour.

Also on the agenda was the situation in the Palestinian territories, with Judeh stressing the need to kick-start serious, effective and time-framed peace talks that embrace the two-state solution leading to setting up an independent Palestinian state along the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

He said such a solution, based on international terms of reference and the Arab Peace Initiative, should fully safeguard Jordan's vital interests, stressing Washington's role in this quest.

The two ministers also agreed on the need to intensify international efforts at various levels to face terrorism and extremism that threaten the whole world. Judeh noted that Jordan had been and would remain at the forefront of these efforts.

Kerry referred to Jordan as a regional player and leader with a key political role in the various issues and challenges, adding "we coordinate with Jordanian officials about the region's files and issues to bring about peace and stability". He voiced Washington's appreciation and support of Jordan's pivotal role to stabilize the Middle East.

In a joint press conference with Kerry after the talks, Judeh announced that Washington had appropriated $1.275 billion in aid to Jordan in 2016, a contribution, he said, reflects the US realisation of the huge burden the Kingdom shoulders.

Judeh also noted the importance of a military cooperation agreement signed by President Barack Obama two days ago to provide military aid to Jordan. He also stressed the need for stepped up efforts in the fight against terrorism, adding that the war on terror is our war.

Kerry said the US Congress had approved $1.6 billion in economic support to Jordan and to protect its borders, which made the Kingdom the third largest recipient of US aid.

He said the entire world is concerned with the humanitarian catastrophe resulting from the Syrian crisis, which left 13.5 million Syrians, including 6 million children, in need of relief aid. He said Jordan is bearing a huge burden and facing tremendous challenges, pledging Washington's support to the country in this regard.