Jordan’s PM Holds Government Responsible for Dead Sea Tragedy

Civil defense members look for survivors after rainstorms unleashed flash floods, near the Dead Sea. (Reuters)
Civil defense members look for survivors after rainstorms unleashed flash floods, near the Dead Sea. (Reuters)
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Jordan’s PM Holds Government Responsible for Dead Sea Tragedy

Civil defense members look for survivors after rainstorms unleashed flash floods, near the Dead Sea. (Reuters)
Civil defense members look for survivors after rainstorms unleashed flash floods, near the Dead Sea. (Reuters)

Jordan’s Prime Minister Omar Razzaz said that the government shoulders the practical, administrative, and moral responsibility for the tragic incident near the Dead Sea last Thursday.

During a Lower House session, Razzaz expressed his sincere condolences to all Jordanians, especially families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

The PM asserted that the government’s duty in these circumstances, and at this difficult moment, is not to search for a scapegoat. He stressed that the government must investigate all details to identify responsibility “accurately”, and to uncover any negligence or institutional defect to avoid re-occurrence of such a tragedy.

"Successful countries are not those that do not make mistakes, but are those that do not repeat the same mistakes, draw lessons from them, determine responsibilities accurately, and hold those who are negligent accountable without hesitation," the prime minister was quoted by Petra News Agency as saying.

Razzaz also thanked all who responded to the crisis efficiently and did everything in their power, but could not change the outcome; because the response to such a crisis requires various efforts, which are shared by several parties.

The Lower House also decided to form a committee to investigate the Dead Sea incident when 40 MPs requested a motion of no confidence in the ministers of education and tourism.



US Links Ankara-Damascus Normalization to Political Solution in Syria

Meeting between Erdogan and Assad in 2010 (Archive)
Meeting between Erdogan and Assad in 2010 (Archive)
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US Links Ankara-Damascus Normalization to Political Solution in Syria

Meeting between Erdogan and Assad in 2010 (Archive)
Meeting between Erdogan and Assad in 2010 (Archive)

Recent statements by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his willingness to meet Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to normalize relations between the two countries have sparked mixed reactions.
While the Syrian opposition sees the possibility of such a meeting despite the challenges, Damascus views the statements as a political maneuver by the Turks. Meanwhile, the United States has tied the normalization process to achieving a political solution in Syria based on UN Security Council Resolution 2254, issued in 2015.
Turkish media reported on Thursday that a US administration official, who was not named, confirmed that Washington is against normalizing relations with the Syrian regime under Assad. He emphasized that Washington cannot accept normalizing ties with Damascus without progress toward a political solution that ends the conflicts in Syria.
Meanwhile, the head of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolution and Opposition Forces, Hadi al-Bahra, stated that a meeting between Assad and Erdogan is possible despite the obstacles. In a statement to Reuters on Thursday, Bahra said the meeting is feasible, even though Ankara is fully aware that the Assad regime cannot currently meet its demands and understands the regime’s limitations.
Bahra pointed out that the UN-led political process remains frozen and that he had briefed US and Western officials on the latest developments in the Syrian file. On Saturday, Bahra participated in a consultative meeting in Ankara with the Syrian Negotiation Commission, along with a high-level delegation from the US State Department, during which they exchanged views on the political solution and the need to establish binding mechanisms for implementing international resolutions related to the Syrian issue.
On the other side, Assad’s special advisor, Bouthaina Shaaban, dismissed Erdogan’s announcement that Ankara is awaiting a response from Damascus regarding his meeting with Assad for normalization as another political maneuver with ulterior motives.
Shaaban, speaking during a lecture at the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which was reported by Turkish media on Thursday, stated that any rapprochement between the two countries is contingent on its withdrawal of forces from Syrian territory.