Syria and Jordan premiers hold official talks
Syria-Jordan, Politics, 8/23/2004

Syria and Jordan Sunday held official talks in Damascus led by Prime Minister Naji Otari and his Jordanian counterpart Faisal al-Fayez.

At the beginning of the talks, Otari said the Palestinian people's suffering under the Israeli occupation's brutal practices demands a unified Arab stance to support the struggle of the Palestinian people and provide them with the factors of steadfastness.

" Arab countries should adopt an effective role in order to resume the deadlocked peace negotiations, and to compel Israel to abide by the process of just and comprehensive peace based on the Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Arab lands to the line of June 4th 1967," Otari added.

He called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as capital, and for making the Middle East a region free of weapons of mass destruction and to eliminate the Israeli nuclear arsenal.

On Iraq, Otari said the absence of security and stability in Iraq affect the neighboring countries, thus, the international community and the Arab states should back and help the Iraqi people overcome their ordeal.

"Ending the occupation of Iraq, and the withdrawal of foreign troops from it is the key factor of stability and security in Iraq," Otari said. He added, in that case, the Iraqi people will have the opportunity to restore sovereignty and preserve national unity.

The Jordanian Prime Minister, for his part, said the economic cooperation contributes to enhancing the bilateral relations between the two states, and a best indication of that is the increase of the trade exchange volume to reach to 115 millions Jordanian Dinar in the first five months of the current year compared to 73 millions for the same period in 2003.

On Iraq, Fayez said there is a great importance for a joint coordination between Syria and Jordan vis-a-vis the situation in Iraq.

" As brothers and neighbors, we are interested in Iraq's sovereignty, stability and the withdrawal of foreign occupation from the 25 years war-torn country," Fayez added.

He expressed support to the Palestinian people in the face of the Israeli killings and destruction, calling on the international community to "put an end to the Israeli aggressions and to protect the Palestinian people."

Fayez stressed the necessity of the Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Arab lands including the occupied Syria Golan.

He concluded by saying " We aspire to cooperate with syria in order to enhance the joint Arab action and push the process of developing the Arab League in a way to be more effective." Later, both sides reviewed cooperation between the two states in several fields and establishment of a free trade zone, investment encouragement and avoidance of double taxation.

Following the talks, Otari held a dinner banquet in honor of Prime Minister of Jordan and the accompanying delegation.

Previous Stories:
  Jordan's Premier is to visit Damascus next Sunday   (8/19/2004)
  Al-Fayez to visit Damascus on Sunday   (8/17/2004)
  Syrian - Jordanian transport agreement signed   (8/6/2004)

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