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Amman consultative meeting calls for exit of illegal forces from Syria

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen Net
1 May 2023 19:40

The final statement of the Amman consultative meeting for foreign ministers calls for a political solution to the Syrian crisis.

A photo shows the Jordanian, Saudi, and Syrian foreign ministers during the Amman consultative meeting, Amman, Jordan, on May 1, 2023 (Social media)

The final statement of the consultative meeting of the foreign ministers of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, held in the Jordanian capital, Amman, affirmed the priority of ending the Syrian crisis and all the suffering it caused to the Syrian people.

The statement stressed the need to end the negative implications of the crisis, regionally and internationally, through a political solution that preserves Syria's unity, cohesion, and sovereignty, meets the aspirations of its people, ends terrorism in the country, and contributes to strengthening the appropriate conditions for the voluntary and safe return of refugees.

The statement called for a political solution to the crisis that leads to the withdrawal of all illegal foreign forces from Syria, achieves national reconciliation, and restores Syria's security, stability, wellbeing, and role.

The statement called for the delivery of humanitarian and medical aid that contributes to meeting the life needs of all those who need it among the Syrian people in all their places of residence, stressing that it is a necessity that all efforts must be combined to come together, in cooperation and coordination between the Syrian government and the relevant United Nations bodies, and in accordance with relevant UN decision.

The ministers participating in the consultative meeting welcomed the Syrian government's decision to open Bab Al-Salama and Al-Rai crossings for the United Nations to deliver humanitarian and medical aid after the earthquake that struck Syria on February 6.

The return of displaced Syrians

The statement touched on the voluntary and safe return of Syrian refugees to their country, stressing that it is a top priority and that the necessary steps must be taken to start implementing it immediately.

It also called for strengthening cooperation between the Syrian government and countries hosting refugees and coordination with the relevant United Nations bodies to organize the safe and voluntary return of refugees and end their suffering, according to specific procedures and a clear time frame, provided that the Syrian government begins by identifying the necessary needs to improve public services provided in areas the refugees return to.

The statement called for intensified work with the international community and the United Nations to accelerate the implementation of early recovery projects for Syria, in a way that contributes to stabilization, and that steps be taken, as appropriate, to resolve the issue of the internally displaced, including the issue of the Rukban camp.

The statement pointed to cooperation between the Syrian and the Jordanian government, in coordination with the relevant United Nations bodies, in organizing a voluntary return process for about 1,000 Syrian refugees in Jordan.

Need to end presence of terrorist organizations

The statement stressed the need for cooperation between the Syrian government, the concerned countries, and the United Nations in developing a comprehensive strategy to enhance security and combat terrorism in all its forms and organizations and to end the presence of terrorist organizations in the Syrian territories and neutralize their ability to threaten regional and international security.

In addition, the participants affirmed work to support Syria and its institutions in any legitimate efforts to achieve extending its control over its lands, impose the rule of law, and end the presence of armed and terrorist groups on Syrian territory.

They also called for stopping external interference in Syrian internal affairs and for establishing effective coordination mechanisms between the Syrian military and security agencies and their counterparts in neighboring countries.

The statement called for resuming the work of the Constitutional Committee as soon as possible in the context of political steps aimed at achieving comprehensive national reconciliation.

The meeting discussed the humanitarian aspect and the steps required to achieve progress in efforts to address it, in a way that will directly affect the Syrian people, in addition to a number of security and political issues.

According to the statement, the foreign ministers also agreed with their Syrian counterpart on the agenda of the talks, which will continue according to a timetable to be agreed upon, as well as on the formation of a technical team at the level of experts, which will follow up on the outcomes of this meeting and determine the next steps.

Prior to the Amman consultative meeting, Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al-Safadi and his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad discussed efforts to launch an Arab leadership role to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis and bilateral relations.