ammonnews.net

Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates,Ayman Safadi, has participated on Thursday, in a conference of world foreign ministers, organized by Germany and France , within the framework of the "Alliance for Multilateral Action" initiative to discuss strengthening international cooperation and solidarity in countering the Covid-19 pandemic.

Safadi stressed, in an intervention in the conference, in which representatives of 24 countries participated through videoconference, the importance of multilateral action in facing this crisis.

"We stand together in the face of this crisis and multilateral action is the only way to confront it and face its consequences," he added via the videoconference.

Safadi indicated that the Kingdom dealt with the pandemic according to the priority of protecting citizens and took early decisive preventive measures to protect them.

Safadi said priority now is preventive measures that protect the citizens' health, but he stressed the need for collective action to address the economic consequences of the crisis, especially on small and medium economies facing unprecedented economic challenges.

Safadi called for the necessity of launching collective action and taking steps that include rescheduling debts, postponing the payment of their interest without cost, whether it is debts to official or private parties, and providing grants and soft loans in light of the scarcity of lending and financing sources as a result of the pandemic.

To mitigate the pandemic's repercussions, the FM also stressed the need to respond to the call of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to stop conflicts during this crisis.

"A collective position must also be taken against any illegal Israeli measures, such as annexing occupied Palestinian lands, that will fuel the conflict at a time when everyone needs to focus efforts on combating the Covid-19 pandemic," he told the participants via the videoconference.

Regionally, Safadi called for providing the support needed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to maintain its vital services for Palestinian refugees in all areas of its operations and to finance its programs to face of the pandemic.

He stressed the need to move quickly to meet the agency's needs, which will not be able to fund its programs at the end of next month if it does not receive new funding.

Safadi also stressed the need for continued international support for refugees and the hosting countries, adding , "preventive measures must be taken to protect refugees, and this is a responsibility that should not be borne by the host countries alone. What must be ensured is the continued funding of the relevant United Nations organizations and assistance to the host countries."

"The challenge is international, and international coordination and cooperation is required to face it through the multilateral action, " he said.

Safadi offered the Kingdom's condolences to the victims of the pandemic and its absolute solidarity with the most affected countries.

He thanked the Foreign Ministers of Germany and France for organizing the meeting.