Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Hussein Abdullah al-Safadi believes his visit to Damascus could be the starting point for resolving the Syrian crisis. He made the statement Wednesday during his first visit to the Arab republic's capital since the conflict in Syria.
"A visit to Damascus could be the starting point for resolving the Syrian crisis," Al Arabiya TV quoted him as saying. The foreign minister said that "Jordan intends to provide all possible assistance" to earthquake-stricken Syria.
In Damascus, the minister held talks with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad. "We are very pleased with this visit, we have been cooperating for a long time, and we appreciate this timely gesture," Mekdad said at the capital's international airport as he saw al-Safadi off.
In addition to the foreign minister, al-Safadi was received by Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad. "Al-Safadi conveyed to the president the greetings and condolences of King Abdullah II of Jordan and stressed that the kingdom will continue to do everything possible to help Syria and the Syrian people overcome this ordeal and support the country's leadership's efforts to support the victims," al-Assad's office reported. "Al-Safadi expressed the view that the countries of the world must deal with this ordeal in accordance with humanitarian principles, so that the necessary aid can be delivered to all affected areas without any discrimination or politicization," the statement issued reads. The Syrian president, for his part, thanked Jordan for its official position and stressed the importance of cooperation between the two countries.
The Jordanian foreign minister arrived in Damascus on Wednesday morning and is set to visit earthquake-hit Turkey next.
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Based on materials from TASS