Jordanian King Hails Strategic Partnership With Gulf States

 Jordanian King Abdullah II met Tuesday with GCC Secretary General Nayef Al Hajraf at Al Husseiniya Palace (Petra news agency)
Jordanian King Abdullah II met Tuesday with GCC Secretary General Nayef Al Hajraf at Al Husseiniya Palace (Petra news agency)
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Jordanian King Hails Strategic Partnership With Gulf States

 Jordanian King Abdullah II met Tuesday with GCC Secretary General Nayef Al Hajraf at Al Husseiniya Palace (Petra news agency)
Jordanian King Abdullah II met Tuesday with GCC Secretary General Nayef Al Hajraf at Al Husseiniya Palace (Petra news agency)

Jordanian King Abdullah II stressed Tuesday Jordan’s keenness to continue bolstering cooperation and strengthening the strategic partnership with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, especially in food and water security.

During a meeting Tuesday with GCC Secretary General Nayef Al Hajraf at Al Husseiniya Palace, the King reiterated his support for the outcomes of the 41st GCC Summit hosted by Saudi Arabia, which contributed to enhancing solidarity and stability in the Gulf Arab region, lauding the efforts of the GCC secretary general in that regard.

The meeting covered the latest Arab and regional developments, foremost of which is the Palestinian cause, with the King reaffirming the need to reach just and comprehensive peace on the basis of the two-state solution and in line with the Arab Peace Initiative, international law, and relevant UN resolutions.

King Abdullah also noted the importance of unifying the Arab front to counter challenges, and intensifying efforts to bolster joint Arab action, stressing Jordan’s support for efforts to advance Arab and Islamic causes.

For his part, Hajraf expressed appreciation for Jordan’s important role, under the King’s leadership, in promoting Arab solidarity and cooperation, noting the keenness of GCC leaders to enhance collaboration with Jordan.

On Tuesday, Hajraf also held talks with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi on activating the strategic dialogue between Jordan and the GCC member states.

The two officials emphasized the importance of translating the "historical brotherly ties" between Jordan and the Gulf states into effective cooperation that would advance their joint interests and push forward natural integration.

Safadi and Hajraf also highlighted the proceedings of AlUla Summit and recommendations to support stability and boost development in Jordan and intensify efforts to implement the joint action plans that were agreed on within the framework of the strategic partnership between the Kingdom and the GCC.

Late on Monday, a Jordanian-GCC joint committee held talks on advancing cooperation between Amman and the Gulf.

Talks touched on ways to coordinate efforts aimed at implementing joint action plans within the strategic partnership framework, as agreed upon by both sides, a statement by the FM said.

The meeting, held via videoconference, was chaired by the Ministry's Secretary General Yousef Batayneh, and the Undersecretary of Regional & GCC Affairs, Waheed Mubarak Sayya.



Syria’s Al-Sharaa Says No to Arms Outside State Control

Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (C) arrives for a meeing with visiting Druze officials from Lebanon's Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) in Damascus on December 22, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (C) arrives for a meeing with visiting Druze officials from Lebanon's Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) in Damascus on December 22, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
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Syria’s Al-Sharaa Says No to Arms Outside State Control

Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (C) arrives for a meeing with visiting Druze officials from Lebanon's Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) in Damascus on December 22, 2024. (Photo by AFP)
Syria's new leader Ahmed al-Sharaa (C) arrives for a meeing with visiting Druze officials from Lebanon's Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) in Damascus on December 22, 2024. (Photo by AFP)

Syria's de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa said his administration would announce the new structure of the defense ministry and military within days.

In a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday, al-Sharaa said that his administration would not allow for arms outside the control of the state.

An official source told Reuters on Saturday that Murhaf Abu Qasra, a leading figure in the insurgency that toppled Bashar al-Assad two weeks ago, had been named as defense minister in the interim government.
Sharaa did not mention the appointment of a new defense minister on Sunday.
Sharaa discussed the form military institutions would take during a meeting with armed factions on Saturday, state news agency SANA said.
Prime Minister Mohammed al-Bashir said last week that the defense ministry would be restructured using former opposition factions and officers who defected from Assad's army.

Earlier Sunday, Lebanon’s Druze leader Walid Jumblatt held talks with al-Sharaa in Damascus.

Jumblatt expressed hope that Lebanese-Syrian relations “will return to normal.”

“Syria was a source of concern and disturbance, and its interference in Lebanese affairs was negative,” al-Sharaa said, referring to the Assad government. “Syria will no longer be a case of negative interference in Lebanon," he added.