Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will hold talks with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Hussein Abdullah al-Safadi on Thursday, and will also be received by Jordan's King Abdullah II during his visit to the kingdom.
Lavrov arrived in the Jordanian capital the night before. Amman was the first point of the minister's working trip to the Middle East, then he will travel to the UAE.
It is noteworthy that the minister's trip to the region comes immediately after the Arab League (LAS) summit held in the capital of Algeria on November 1-2. The Jordanian side will probably inform Lavrov of its results.
As the Russian MFA noted on the eve of the talks, Moscow sees Lavrov's upcoming visit to Jordan as an important part of its consistent efforts to promote multifaceted interaction with traditional partners in the Middle East. "We proceed from the fact that this is in the long-term interests of ensuring peace, prosperity and stability in this strategically important region," the ministry stressed.
Regional subjects: Syria, Palestine, Iraq
The ministers will exchange assessments on the Syrian issue. Moscow and Amman share a common understanding of the need to approach all the existing problems through direct dialogue provided by the Syrians themselves, including within the framework of the Constitutional Committee. The sides also have very close positions on the need to eradicate the remaining small hotbeds of terrorism in Syria, provide conditions for the return of refugees and international assistance for the reconstruction of the country.
In this context, the sides will certainly discuss the work of the Astana format (Russia, Iran, Turkey), as well as preparations for the next international meeting on Syria in this format, which is scheduled before the end of the year in the capital of Kazakhstan. Jordan regularly participates in meetings in this format as an observer state, along with Iraq and Lebanon. The sides are likely to discuss the situation in the Rukban refugee camp near the Jordanian-Syrian border, where the humanitarian situation remains difficult.
One of the central topics of the talks will be the Palestinian-Israeli settlement. Jordan is giving this issue high priority. In addition, the Jordanian king has the status of custodian of Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem, which makes the country's role in this issue especially important.
Moscow and Amman agree on the need to promote a two-state solution to this crisis as the only possible way to resolve the conflict definitively. King Abdullah II, during his visit to Russia in 2021, noted Russia's "historic role" in resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which has enabled "the Israelis and the Palestinians to start discussing with each other the issues at hand." Al-Safadi earlier noted that the key role in the Palestinian-Israeli settlement belongs to the Middle East Quartet of international mediators, so the format should revive its activity.
The situation in Iraq is also on the agenda in the context of parliamentary approval of the country's new government. "We expect that the cabinet headed by Mohammed al-Sudani will make the necessary efforts to improve the situation in Iraq, including ensuring security and law and order there," the Russian foreign ministry pointed out.
Ukrainian crisis
The Russian minister is likely to tell the Jordanian side in detail about the situation in Ukraine in the context of Russia's special military operation. Amman has a balanced position on the SMO. According to Moscow, Amman's refusal to join the anti-Russian sanctions confirms that "the time-tested bilateral ties between Russia and Jordan are not subject to conjunctural fluctuations associated with changes in the geopolitical situation."
Besides, the parties may also touch upon the situation around the grain deal. On October 29, the defense ministry of the Russian Federation reported on the suspension of its participation in the grain deal after Ukraine committed a terrorist act against the ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civil vessels involved in the security of the grain corridor.
On Wednesday, however, it became known that Russia resumed participation in the deal after receiving written guarantees from Ukraine not to use the grain corridor for military action against Moscow. The Russian defense ministry noted that this was due to the mediation of the UN and Turkey. Nevertheless, the issue of extending the deal, which expires in mid-November, remains open.
It is worth noting that Jordan is also a member of the Arab League (LAS) contact group on Ukraine. Another meeting between Lavrov and his LAS colleagues in this format was held on the sidelines of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Moscow then highly appreciated the LAS's balanced position on the issue.
Bilateral relations
The parties will pay much attention to strengthening business cooperation between Russia and Jordan. The growth rates of trade turnover between Russia and Jordan are still lagging behind the desired figures, but the countries are interested in increasing them. The Intergovernmental Russian-Jordanian Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, the last session of which was held on February 2 online, is intended to help change this situation.
To develop trade, economic and tourist relations the Russian and Jordanian sides also discuss the facilitation of visa issues and the resumption of direct flights between the countries. The ministers will probably not avoid these topics.
Moscow and Amman also note good prospects for the development of military-technical cooperation between the two countries and interaction in the field of nuclear energy.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS