Syrian-Jordanian higher committee to meet in Amman

The speaker of the Jordanian Parliament, Abdul Hadi al-Majali, has announced that the Syrian - Jordanian joint higher committee will convene its meeting within less than one week in Amman.

He denied any political reasons behind postponing the meeting. Al-Majali attributed the delay in convening the committee's meeting, which was due by the beginning of July, to preoccupation by the two sides.

This was expressed in an interview granted by the speaker of the Jordanian Parliament to the Jordanian daily al-Dostour when he arrived in Amman from Damascus following his participation in the meetings of the council of the Arab Parliamentary Union.

On the possibility of facilitating citizens' movements between the two states using identity cards, al-Majali said that issue is of concern to the two governments, adding, "I do think it will be difficult or a point of disputes between the two countries."

Concerning the question of the Jordanian detainees in the Syrian jails, al-Majali said that the Jordanian move was not intended toward the Jordanian prisoners in Syria, rather all Jordanian prisoners in other states, as to include Israel, Kuwait, Iraq and Iran.

He continued that the governments of Syria and Jordan through exchanged confidence are discussing the issue of prisoners in Syria. " What is needed is to know the fate of our citizens and this matter is properly made," he added.