(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency) Under the MoU, $750 million will be allocated for economic aid and support for development and investment projects and $350 million for military assistance.
The signing of the MoU was an affirmation of the strategic partnership between Jordan and the United States, reinforcing bilateral ties and serving common interests.
Safadi said Jordan will continue to work with the United States and all partners to achieve security and peace in the region, as well as fighting terrorism by defeating Daesh terrorist group.
On the relationship with the United States and the Palestinian issue, the foreign minister said: "We hold divergent positions and views on Jerusalem, but we are committed to achieving a just and comprehensive peace." He said the Palestinian issue remains a central issue for Jordan, stressing that the only viable solution to this issue is the two-state solution, which guarantees the establishment of a Palestinian state on the pre-June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital that enjoys full sovereignty over the Palestinian territory, and lives in security and peace alongside Israel.
He referred to US President Donald Trump's commitment to reaching a lasting solution to the Palestinian issue, as well as the King's continuing commitment that Jordan will take its full responsibility and exert all efforts to push for peace.
He pointed out that all Arab countries unanimously agreed on the importance of peace through the Amman summit statement, and the adherence of Arab states to peace as a strategic option, and work towards achieving it.
He underlined the importance of working with the United States and all partners to support the UNRWA to ensure the continuity of its work in providing necessary services to refugees in the region.
On the Syrian crisis, Safadi said Jordan is working with the US administration to find a solution based on the UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and the Geneva Peace Process, adding that: "the solution we are looking for should be acceptable to the Syrians and should preserve Syrian territorial integrity." US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, said Jordan has been a strategic partner of the United States for a long time, stressing that the two friendly countries have succeeded in developing relations and strategic partnership based on mutual respect and serving the common interests and security of the two countries.
The signing of the MoU is a US recognition of this deep-rooted partnership with Jordan, and a signal to the world that the Jordanian-US partnership is stronger than before, Tillerson noted.
He lauded King Abdullah's efforts to find a comprehensive solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, pointing out that Jordan has an important role in this field and indicating the United States' support for Jordanian efforts to achieve peace and push towards it.
"We have differences in some positions, but our main objective remains unchanged: achieving a just and comprehensive peace," he said.
Tillerson reiterated US President Donald Trump's commitment to seeing progress in this process, referring to the US support for the Palestinians and Israelis' choices in achieving the desired peace.
He pointed out that the US President and his team are still working on a peace plan for the region, and it will be announced when the time is right for that, indicating that he was briefed on the plan and provided his opinion and advice in many of its aspects.
"When President Trump decided to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, he underlined his respect for the Hashemite custodianship over the holy sites in the city and Jordan's role towards them," Tillerson said, noting that the question of Jerusalem's borders is still left to the final solution agreed by the Palestinians and Israelis in the final status negotiations.
On Syria, Tillerson expressed the United States' thanks to Jordan for receiving Syrian refugees until proper conditions for their voluntary return to their country are available.
"We need a supportive attitude from all parties involved in the Syrian issue to work together towards achieving peace in Syria, which brings democracy for the Syrian people and preserves its territorial integrity," he said.
On the recent tension in Syria between Israel and Iran, the US Secretary of State reiterated his country's position that Iran's presence in Syria provokes chaos and instability in the region.
"Iran must withdraw its forces and allied militias from Syria and allow the peace process in Syria to continue based on the Geneva process and the outcome of the Sochi conference," he added.
With regard to the situation in Lebanon, Tillerson stressed his country's keenness on the stability of a free and democratic Lebanon, away from any outside interference, especially the Iranian's.
As for Turkey, Tillerson said: "Turkey, which is a member of NATO, remains an important ally of the United States, and we must work with it to find a solution to the Syrian crisis according to the Geneva process and remove Turkish fears, which we understand, from developments in Syria." Referring to the United States' support for UNRWA, Tillerson said UNRWA's support is an international affair, underlining the United States' commitment to supporting the UN organization, especially its educational and health services.
"We look forward to the participation of other partners in supporting the UN agency," Tillerson noted, adding that 30 percent of UNRWA's budget is provided by the United States alone." Tillerson commended Jordan's decision to sever diplomatic ties with North Korea and its continued call for stability on the Korean peninsula.
AF
14/2/2018 - 10:23:18 PM
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