(MENAFN- Jordan Times) AMMAN — his majesty King Abdullah and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday discussed the partnership between Jordan and NATO and current regional developments, according to a Royal Court statement.
Talks focused on cooperation in the military and training fields and in efforts to combat terrorism, which threatens the global security and peace system. His Majesty stressed Jordan's keenness to strengthen its partnership with NATO.
They stressed the need to build on the existing agreements between the two sides, especially the bilateral cooperation and partnership programme related to NATO's building of the defence capacity of the Kingdom, as well as the renewal of Jordan's membership in the group of advanced-status partners with the bloc for three years.
As they discussed developments related to the Syrian crisis, His Majesty stressed the importance of intensifying efforts to work out a political solution to the crisis, which brings back security and stability to Syria and preserves its territorial integrity.
For his part, Stoltenberg expressed his appreciation of Jordan's important role, under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah, in achieving peace and enhancing security in the region, as well as dealing with regional challenges, stressing NATO's keenness to promote cooperation with Jordan to the highest levels.
He added he was looking forward to His Majesty's visit to NATO headquarters where partners would listen to his vision on the regional issues and crises.
Also on Tuesday, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs-of-Staff Lt. Gen. Mahmoud Freihat received Stoltenberg and his accompanying delegation, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.
Freihat and the NATO chief discussed the latest regional and global developments and cooperation in areas of the interest of the armed forces.
Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi also met separately with the visiting NATO official and discussed with him mechanisms of enhancing existing cooperation between Jordan and the organisation as well as the regional situation, according to Petra.
Safadi and Stoltenberg stressed the importance of existing cooperation programmes between Jordan and the bloc, and agreed to increase political and defence communication programmes to strengthen their strategic partnership.
At a press conference following the meeting, Safadi pointed out that he discussed with the secretary general the latest developments regarding the Palestinian issue, where he stressed the indispensability of the two-state solution, which guarantees the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Safadi said that they also agreed there is no military solution to the Syrian crisis, and stressed the need to join forces in order to reach a political solution that is accepted by the Syrian people and based on Security Council Resolution 2254 and through the Geneva process.
Deputising for Prime Minister Hani Mulki, Minister of State for Media Affairs Mohammad Momani on Tuesday met with Stoltenberg and the accompanying delegation, Petra reported.
During the meeting, they discussed areas of cooperation within the framework of the existing partnership programme between Jordan and NATO, especially in the areas of training, exchange of expertise and defence capacity building.
Momani underlined the strategic partnership between Jordan and NATO and the keenness of both sides to enhance cooperation and coordination at the military and defence levels, including intelligence exchange, cyber security and crisis management according to the best international practices.
In regards to the Syrian crisis, Momani emphasised the burdens borne by Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army and the security services over the past seven years to secure the northern and northeastern borders from all sorts of smuggling and terror threats, stressing that this has had a price and placed financial burdens on the Jordanian economy.
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