Beirut, Jan. 16 (Petra)-- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and Expatriates Affairs Ayman Safadi conveyed a message from His Majesty King Abdullah II to Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, congratulating him on his election as Lebanese Republic President.

The official invitation from His Majesty King Abdullah II to President Aoun to visit the Kingdom was included in the message; the two brotherly nations will coordinate the date of the visit.

President Aoun greeted His Majesty the King, emphasized his desire to strengthen cooperation in all areas, and expressed gratitude for His Majesty's steadfast stance and ongoing support of Lebanon.

Ways to improve regional conditions and fraternal relations were explored during the discussion.

Safadi spoke with Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib, Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam, Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri while in Lebanon.

They talked about regional trends and bilateral relations during the meetings.

In press statements following his meeting with the president, Safadi "Jordan's absolute support for Lebanon at this stage, which we are all optimistic will be a good start for our brotherly Lebanon to overcome all previous challenges and move towards achieving our common goal of Lebanon regaining its security and stability and beginning the process of reconstruction."

Safadi emphasized that "His Majesty the King personally follows up on this issue, and the Kingdom's support for the Lebanese army is an ongoing process." In order to stress that aiding the Lebanese army and giving it the tools and resources it requires is crucial for it to fulfill its vital role in Lebanon, we offered what assistance we could in the previous phase and will continue to do so, as well as in our discussions with our brothers and partners in the international community."

Safadi said: "We trust that the new leadership in Lebanon will be able to move forward and serve Lebanon's interests and contribute to the security and stability of the region." In order to fulfill the Palestinian people's right to an independent, sovereign state on the June 4, 1967 lines, with occupied Jerusalem as its capital, he emphasized that Israel must respect the agreements it has signed, adhere to international law, cease violating the ceasefire in Lebanon, implement the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, withdraw from the Syrian territories it has occupied, and work with the region to build a just peace.

Safadi emphasized that Jordan has welcomed the ceasefire in Gaza, saying: "We stress the need to adhere to the agreement and implement it, and we stress the need for all of us in the region and in the international community to move to deliver sufficient aid to our people in Gaza after more than a year of suffering, killing, destruction, and devastation."

"We in the Kingdom have hosted our Syrian brothers over the years of the crisis, about 1.3 million brothers," Safadi remarked in reference to Syria. Since their safe and voluntary return to Syria is the answer to the refugee crisis, we support their safe and voluntary return. In addition to reaching them and continuing to give them a respectable life, we are all working to stabilize Syria, aid in its reconstruction, and establish an atmosphere that reassures refugees and internally displaced people that they can live in safety and dignity. That's what this will result in. The Syrians undoubtedly wish to return to their country, but we also need to set up the circumstances that let for the return, and we will continue to do so."

In press releases following his meeting with Berri, Safadi expressed gratitude for the Speaker of Parliament's contribution to resolving the previous stage's difficulties and helping to save Lebanon from its current predicament.

Safadi continued: "I confirmed the permanent Jordanian position that we in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan always stand by our brotherly Lebanon with its security, stability, and sovereignty, and God willing, this is a new beginning that will be a good beginning for Lebanon, to overcome the challenges of the past and move forward towards a better future."

In press releases after the meeting, Safadi praised Mikati for his diligent work in fostering Jordanian-Lebanese ties.

The Jordanian-Lebanese bilateral relationship has been strengthened over the years, he said, and "we appreciate the great efforts made by His Excellency because we have always felt his keenness to strengthen these relations and the keenness that we have also felt to serve brotherly Lebanon and its future, security, and stability." "His Majesty the King is very keen for Lebanon to move forward towards rebuilding its institutions, restoring its security and stability, and achieving it, and we trust that the Prime Minister, God willing, will move towards forming the new Lebanese government," Safadi said.

He said, "There is a challenge of rebuilding, reconstruction, all of these are big challenges, but God willing, Lebanon will be able, with this rapid positive move towards activating its institutions, to overcome them and restore Lebanon's role, brilliance and position in the region and the world."

Safadi said following his conversation with Bou Habib that "Jordanian-Lebanese relations are historical, strategic, and deeply rooted fraternal relations, and my visit today, at the behest of His Majesty King Abdullah II, is a reflection of the steadfast Jordanian position in supporting Lebanon, Lebanon's security and Lebanon's stability."

//Petra// MF



16/01/2025 20:39:16