Ammon News - First Deputy Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament, Ahmad Safadi, lauded as "historical and distinguished" Jordan-US ties, and said that His Majesty King Abdullah II's recent visit to the United States was successful and fruitful on all levels.
Safadi gave his remarks Monday when he attended part of the meeting held between the Jordanian Parliamentary Friendship Association with North American Countries with the US Deputy Ambassador to the Kingdom Mike Hankey, the Director of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) Sherry Carlin and a number of embassy staff.
The meeting discussed ties between the two friendly countries and ways of enhancing them in all fields.
Safadi pointed out that Jordan is facing difficult economic challenges as a result of waves of refugees that it has received throughout history, as it bears great burdens that have affected infrastructure, education, health and labor sectors, as well as the Corona pandemic and its negative impacts on productive sectors.
He expressed his appreciation for Washington's stances towards Jordan and the continuous support it provides to the Kingdom, stressing that Jordan looks forward to increasing grants, aid and development projects.
For his part, the association’s president, MP Khair Abu Salik, stressed that King Abdullah's visit to the United States of America constituted an important historical station on the road to strengthening and consolidating bilateral relations in various fields and expanding the strategic partnership between Amman and Washington.
Abu Salik stressed the need to build on the positive results of the talks held by His Majesty with US President Joe Biden and the US administration, especially in strengthening economic, trade and investment relations between the two countries, as it is based on a long strategic partnership between the two countries based on the confidence of American institutions in Jordan and the depth of relations between the two sides.
On the comprehensive reform process led by His Majesty the King, Abu Salik said that Jordan has made great strides in this field and has taken qualitative steps on the path of political, economic and administrative reform, and today it is establishing a new stage to strengthen the democratic process embodied in the formation of the Royal Committee to Modernize the Political System.
With regard to the Palestinian issue, Abu Salik underlined that Jordan represents the voice of moderation, wisdom and reason, and His Majesty the King has always stressed the importance of relaunching serious and effective negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis, to achieve a just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution that guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the pre-June 4, 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital.
Abu Salik also focused on the importance of supporting the national economy and improving the business environment, emphasizing in this regard on the importance of the economic memorandum of understanding with the United States of America, which guarantees annual aid and flows into the state budget.
MPs Nassar Al-Qaisi, Majdi Al-Yacoub, Mahmoud Al-Farajat, Asma Al-Rawahneh, Suleiman Al-Qallab, Khaled Abu Hassan, Ayoub Khamis, Dina Al-Bashir, Yazan Al-Shdeifat, Bilal Al-Momani, Raed Al-Samirat and Imad Al-Odwan, in turn, talked about a number of issues of common interest and the importance of strengthening the strategic partnership between the two friendly countries and expanding cooperation in various fields.
They said that Jordan constitutes a state of balance in the region and has played a distinguished role in maintaining security and stability in the region.
They commended the US support provided to the Kingdom, expressing their hope to increase the volume of aid so that Jordan can continue its humanitarian and moral role towards refugees and recover from the economic repercussions of the Coronavirus pandemic.
They underscored that the region will not enjoy security and stability without a just and comprehensive solution that leads to the declaration of the establishment of a Palestinian state with full sovereignty over its national soil, with Jerusalem as its capital, and the restoration of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.
For his part, Hankey said that the relations between the two countries are strong and historical, stressing that President Biden, during His Majesty's visit to Washington, expressed the strength of this relationship and the United States' support for Jordan, saying, "You have always been on our side, and you will always find us at Jordan's side," and he welcomed His Majesty to the White House as a dear friend of America.
He expressed his appreciation for the important role that His Majesty is leading in achieving security and stability in the Middle East, saying, "Your success is our success."
Hankey also affirmed his country's keenness to support Jordan, stand by it, and continue to work and coordinate with it to overcome the economic challenges it faces.
(Petra)
comment replay 