Jordan calls for improving relations with Syria

Jordanian Foreign Minister Abdul Elah al-Khatib said he has recently met with Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa in New York, adding, during the meeting they discussed issues relating to the Arab arena, noting that stress was laid on the importance of giving inter-Arab disputes top priority.

The Jordanian FM told the Jordanian weekly al-Bilad, "I hope that the excellent inclinations we reached would not have been expressed in the opposite direction by recent statements made by the Syrian Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Mustafa Tlass." He added, "I do not think that such statements will, by any means, serve the Arab interests." He noted that the Tlass statements were made just two days after his meeting with al-Sharaa.

Replying a question on how he views the future of relations between Jordan and Syria, al-Khatib said, "I think that Jordanian - Syrian relations can be much better than they are now. These relations are beyond the optimum. The volume of trade is less than the normal level."

On the number of Jordanians detained in Syria, the Jordanian minister said that the figures change from time to time, adding that the last list he saw the number of those Jordanian detainees is 742. "We are following up on this issue," he said.

Replying to a question on whether Jordan has plans to reduce its relations with Israel, al-Kahtib said, "I do not understand how our brothers in Syria or others ask Jordan to take a stand which is different from their own demands, which are in this respect on the special conditions to resume Syrian-Israeli negotiations from the point at which they broke off."

He added that Jordan should not be asked to halt the peace process at a time when all the world asks to pressure the Israeli government to abide by the peace process and implement signed agreements.