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Jordan King, German President Discuss Palestinian File

Jordan’s King Abdullah meets with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Amman on Sunday (Jordan’s Royal Court)
Jordan’s King Abdullah meets with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Amman on Sunday (Jordan’s Royal Court)
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Jordan King, German President Discuss Palestinian File

Jordan’s King Abdullah meets with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Amman on Sunday (Jordan’s Royal Court)
Jordan’s King Abdullah meets with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Amman on Sunday (Jordan’s Royal Court)

Jordan's King Abdullah II held talks on Sunday with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Husseiniya Palace in Amman, focusing on the strategic partnership between the two countries, regional and international developments and the Palestinian file.

The two leaders discussed means to develop cooperation between the two countries, especially at the economic, investment, tourism, development, military and security levels.

The King underlined strong and historic ties with Germany and welcomed Steinmeier in his new capacity as president and “as an old and dear friend of Jordan.”

He also mentioned recent meetings with German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen, and in Davos with Chancellor Angela Merkel with whom he discussed issues of common interest.

King Abdullah highlighted the development of defense and security ties between the two countries, expressing keenness to advance them further in the wake of the current circumstances.

“There are many issues that we will discuss, the most important of which is the question of Jerusalem and the future of the peace process,” he stated.

“I believe that our position on the Palestinian issue and Jerusalem is known to you,” he told his German counterpart. “We support the two-state solution in which East Jerusalem is the capital of the Palestinians. These are certain subjects that we will discuss.”

Steinmeier, for his part, stressed that relations with Jordan have grown stronger in the past years.

He added that Germany “follows Jordan’s policy in the region with huge respect and admiration”, noting that the Kingdom was under difficult conditions, especially since 2011, with the arrival of tens of thousands of Syrian refugees to the country.

“I know this is a huge burden for Jordan,” Steinmeier stated, noting that his country was “ready and responsible” to support the Kingdom in shouldering this weight.

The president said discussions would also focus on regional issues, namely Palestinian-Israeli relations and the future status of Jerusalem, as well as tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which affect the entire region.

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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
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Italy Plans to Return Ambassador to Syria to Reflect New Diplomatic Developments, Minister Says

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)
Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks while meeting with members of the G7, on July 11, 2024, during the NATO summit in Washington. (AP)

Italy plans to send an ambassador back to Syria after a decade-long absence, the country’s foreign minister said, in a diplomatic move that could spark divisions among European Union allies.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking in front of relevant parliamentary committees Thursday, announced Rome’s intention to re-establish diplomatic ties with Syria to prevent Russia from monopolizing diplomatic efforts in the Middle Eastern country.

Moscow is considered a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who has remained in power despite widespread Western isolation and civilian casualties since the start of Syria’s civil war in March 2011.

Peaceful protests against the Assad government — part of the so-called “Arab Spring” popular uprisings that spread across some of the Middle East — were met by a brutal crackdown, and the uprising quickly spiraled into a full-blown civil war.

The conflict was further complicated by the intervention of foreign forces on all sides and a rising militancy, first by al-Qaida-linked groups and then the ISIS group until its defeat on the battlefield in 2019.

The war, which has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half the country’s pre-war population of 23 million, is now largely frozen, despite ongoing low-level fighting.

The country is effectively carved up into areas controlled by the Damascus-based government of Assad, various opposition groups and Syrian Kurdish forces.

In the early days of the conflict, many Western and Arab countries cut off relations with Syria, including Italy, which has since managed Syria-related diplomacy through its embassy in Beirut.

However, since Assad has regained control over most of the territory, neighboring Arab countries have gradually restored relations, with the most symbolically significant move coming last year when Syria was re-admitted to the Arab League.

Tajani said Thursday the EU’s policy in Syria should be adapted to the “development of the situation,” adding that Italy has received support from Austria, Croatia, Greece, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Cyprus and Slovakia.

However, the US and allied countries in Europe have largely continued to hold firm in their stance against Assad’s government, due to concerns over human rights violations.