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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Minister of Interior Ghaleb Al-Zu'bi said there are direct Royal directives to the government to launch fresh bridges of effective cooperation with Iraq in all fields, especially in security and economic domains, in a bid to achieve mutual interests of the two brotherly peoples.

The minister's remarks came during his meeting with his Iraqi counterpart, Qassim Al-Araji, attended by Minister of Municipal Affairs and Transport, Walid Al-Masri, Director General of Public Security Department Gen. Ahmed Sarhan Al-Faqih, Secretary General of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Raed Al-Adwan, the Jordanian ambassador to Iraq, Montasser Al-Oqla, the Iraqi ambassador to Amman Safia al-Suhail and a number of officials from both sides.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed means of boosting bilateral cooperation in the fields of combating terrorism and extremism, as well as border security, preventing smuggling and human trafficking, exchanging information, developing trade exchanges through the Al Karama border crossing, and other issues related to the Iraqi community in Amman.

Al-Zu'bi said Jordan is always seeking to open wider prospects of coordination with Iraq, which currently holds the banner of openness with neighboring countries and its Arab region after eradicating terrorist movements and organizations.

He pointed out the two countries share many common and historical values, especially as they can build upon an accumulated heritage, adding both sides should work to maximize achievement in various fields of common interest.

In regard to the Al Karama border crossing reopened several months ago, Al-Zu'bi said this step is necessary to foster swift flow of trade, to facilitate transportation movements and to allow trucks to reach their final destination in both countries.

In this context, the minister said Jordan is ready to cooperate with Iraq in the fight against terrorism, especially since both sides have a longstanding and extensive expertise in this field.

In turn, Al-Araji conveyed the greetings of the Iraqi president, prime minister and the Iraqi people to the King, government and people of Jordan, stressing this is an opportunity to strengthen the existing bilateral relations and to discuss some security, political and economic issues.

He said the Iraqi government is working hard to develop and to facilitate transit exchange through the border crossing of Trebil as the shortest and closest route to deliver outbound and inbound goods, which produces clear economic privileges to both sides, who should work together to overcome any difficulties that may face swift flow of trade and transport.

The Iraqi minister also referred to some issues related to the Iraqi community in Amman, especially the fines resulting from their stay in the Kingdom.

To follow up cooperation, the two sides agreed to form a joint committee to supervise border security, to operate border patrols, and to hold periodic meetings to prevent all types of smuggling.

Commenting on ways to develop transport cooperation, the minister of transport stressed the importance of looking into appropriate mechanisms to ensure facilitation of transit operations, to guarantee arrival of trucks to their final destinations and to increase level of security coordination as a pressing demand due to its mutual economic benefits.

On the security arrangements, the director of Public Security Department, Ahmed Sarhan Al-Faqih, said the PSD applies the latest methods to facilitate border reception and departure measures, expressing full readiness to cooperate with the Iraqi side in this field to ensure security of the Iraqi community and to facilitate their stay in the Kingdom within the limits of the jurisdiction of the public security services.

Al-Faqih revealed plans to develop Al-Karama border site, to increase its reception capacity, and to facilitate the process of reciprocal transit in accordance with the latest security and technological criteria in this field.

At the end of the meeting, both sides agreed to continue coordination, consultation and bilateral meetings whenever necessary to address any developments or issues that may arise from time to time.