Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - His Majesty King Abdullah II on Tuesday joined Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in a three-way summit in Nicosia, which dealt with Jordan's relations with Cyprus and Greece and developments in the region.
Emphasis was laid during the meeting on the importance of building on the relations of friendship between Jordan and Cyprus and Greece, and "in a manner to lay the foundations of a fruitful partnership towards expanding cooperation among them in many fields, and that contributes to achieving peace, security and stability in the region and the world."
The summit, held over a working lunch, also dealt with the Palestinian issue and Jerusalem, in addition to regional crises and efforts to reach political solutions to them. It also tackled regional and international efforts in fighting terrorism within a holistic strategy.
A host of topics topped the agenda in a first session of the three-way consultations, included aspects of enhanced cooperation between Jordan and Cyprus and Greece in trade, investment, renewable energy and energy efficiency, tourism, agriculture, maritime shipping and Aqaba's location as a shipping hub and access point to African markets, protection of antiquities, commercial transport and health fields. It also dealt with developments related to the war on terrorism.
In a second session, the leaders focused on Jordan's relations with the European Union through the Union for the Mediterranean, in addition to developments related to the Middle East peace process, the situation in Syria and Iraq and migration and refugees.
In a joint press conference with the Cypriot president and Greek prime minister after the summit, His Majesty said there can be no peace or stability without a just and permanent solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and Jerusalem is key to resolving it.
The issue of Jerusalem, he stressed, must be settled within a comprehensive peace agreement based on the two-state solution, and that unilateral decisions on Jerusalem will not change the legal and historical facts or undermine the rights of Muslims and Christians to the holy city.
Next is a transcript of the King's remarks at the press conference:
Mr President, Mr Prime Minister,
Let me start by saying, again, that it is a pleasure to be back here in Cyprus, and to thank you, my friend, for the warm welcome you’ve extended to me on my second visit to your lovely country.
Today marked the launch of what we hope will develop into a fruitful trilateral partnership that benefits all our peoples, and our wider region. We in Jordan are committed to cooperating in such vital fields as energy, water, agriculture, and tourism as were mentioned. And moreover, the agreements we are signing today will undoubtedly help us advance our ties even further.
Creating partnerships between the private sectors of our three countries in these promising fields will provide jobs and opportunities for our peoples, and benefit our region by ensuring peaceful prosperity and synergy.
It is no secret that we live in a very tough neighbourhood, rife with challenges, but also with opportunities; and together, our chances of capitalising on these opportunities and taking on these challenges increase tenfold.
During our very extensive and productive discussions today, we agreed to continue our cooperation within the framework of Jordan’s partnership with the European Union. And we look forward to working with Cyprus and Greece to benefit from the EU’s simplified rules of origin to enhance our national industries and increase our exports to Europe.
In addition, our discussions today covered key global and regional issues.
Jordan continues to support the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus to reach a comprehensive, just, lasting and viable solution to the Cyprus problem in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and international law.
As for the Middle East, there can be no peace; nor can there be stability without a just and permanent solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and Jerusalem is key to resolving it.
The issue of Jerusalem must be settled within a comprehensive peace agreement based on the two-state solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with Israel. No unilateral decision on Jerusalem will change the legal and historical facts or undermine the rights of Muslims and Christians to the holy city.
The Hashemite Custodianship of Jerusalem’s Islamic and Christian holy sites is a religious and historical responsibility that Jordan remains fully committed to. But the whole world has a vested interest in the responsibility towards Jerusalem and the Palestinian issue; we all have a stake in reaching peace, and avoiding the consequences of further escalation. And here, the European Union can contribute to efforts to bring Palestinians and Israelis to the negotiating table.
Jordan, Cyprus, and Greece are also committed to fighting the global terrorist and extremist threat within a holistic approach. To that end, Jordan, through the Aqaba Meetings, has been working to bring allies and stakeholders together to discuss how coordination can be improved to close off all avenues to terrorists and extremists around the world. And I, again, want to thank the role of Cyprus in this process.
The victories achieved in Iraq against terrorism and the gains in Syria mark substantial progress in this fight; however, terrorist groups cannot be allowed to regroup and establish footholds elsewhere.
For Syria, we affirm the importance of building on the Astana talks to reach a political solution through the Geneva process that maintains the country’s territorial integrity and fulfils the aspirations of the Syrian people.
And in the meantime, the plight of Syrian refugees remains an international concern, and host countries like Jordan need the world’s support. We are shouldering an immense refugee burden and cannot be left alone as we undertake this humanitarian responsibility on behalf of the world.
And, again, Sir, I would like to thank your voice in recognising Jordan’s challenges to the European Union, and to be standing side by side as we go through these challenges.
These are some of the issues that our countries will work closely on as we build this trilateral partnership, and we look forward to expanding on what has been agreed to today.
I thank both Your Excellencies for this opportunity, and I look forward to seeing you again in this capacity, either in Athens or in Amman in the future.
Thank you.
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