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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Prime Minister Omar Razzaz met on Saturday with US Congresswoman, House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee Chair, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and an accompanying delegation for a discussion of US-Jordanian ties and the situation in the region, including the Palestinian issue.

During the meeting, which was attended by Minister of Political and Parliamentary Affairs Musa Al-Maaytah, the Prime Minister stressed the strategic Jordanian-US partnership and the importance of cementing relations in all fields. He valued the continued US support of the Kingdom, which, he said, strengthens the government's hand in addressing economic challenges.

The Prime Minister briefed the US team about the economic challenges posed to the Kingdom, pointing to the regional conditions and the influx of Syrian refugees, which exacerbated economic woes. However, he expressed the hope that the recent reopening of the Jordanian border with Syria will boost the Kingdom's exports and trade with Syria, Lebanon and Europe.

Razzaz also spoke about royal directives to his government, whose main focus is promoting the rule of law, transparency and accountability and fighting corruption, raising productivity and improving the quality of public services, especially health, education and transport.

The prime minister stressed that Jordan is committed to working with all parties to bring about a just peace in the region, while seeking to set a model for democracy in the region.

He stressed the need to maintain the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), for its symbolic importance to the Palestinian issue, and to keep the level of its health and educational services.

For her part, the US legislator stressed the strategic partnership between the United States and Jordan, noting that the Kingdom is a real partner of the United States in the Middle East and also lauded its democratic course.

She commended His Majesty King Abdullah's leadership and the close relations with the US administration and Congress, stressing that Jordan is a voice of wisdom and moderation and has been a stabilizing force in the region.

Ros-Lehtinen said she recognized the size of challenges facing the Kingdom as a result of the Syrian crisis and the burdens it shoulders for receiving refugees.