Day: May 10, 2023

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi has briefed his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi on Arab endeavors to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis and put an end to its humanitarian, security, and political repercussions. During a phone call on Wednesday, Safadi stressed the importance of the new Arab track, which took shape after the Jeddah and Amman meetings on the crisis, and the extraordinary meeting of the Arab League in resolving the crisis according to a “step-by-step methodology” and in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. Statements issued by the countries participating in the Amman meeting, he continued, have laid the path for gradual progress toward a comprehensive solution to the crisis, which requires great, collective efforts and practical steps to reach, while focusing on humanitarian aspects to alleviate the burden on the Syrian people. Hayashi affirmed that his country backs efforts to resolve the Syrian crisis per relevant UN resolutions, pointing to the humanitarian assistance provided by Japan within early recovery mechanisms made available by Security Council resolutions. In addition, the two ministers went over the outcomes of His Majesty King Abdullah II’s visit to Japan last April, underscoring the impact of calls His Majesty made with Japanese officials on the advancement of Jordanian-Japanese relations. They reiterated their commitment to implementing the results of the third round of the Jordanian-Japanese strategic dialogue meetings held in Tokyo last March. “Jordan appreciates the strong ties with Japan and its assistance to the Kingdom in overcoming the ramifications of regional crises,” Safadi stated. On the other hand, the Japanese minister said his country is keen on its partnership with Jordan and its role in the region’s security and stability. The ministers agreed to continue their consultations in an upcoming visit by Hayashi to Jordan, which its date is yet to be agreed on.

Source: Jordan News Agency

Tomorrow marks the birthday of HRH Princess Basma bint Talal, a long-standing advocate of women and children’s rights, and a pioneer of sustainable human development in the Arab region. Princess Basma established and chairs the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD), a non-profit NGO established in 1977. Today, JOHUD represents a unique, participatory model that relies on a nationwide network of 51 locally-managed community centers, supported by a number of specialized institutions. Princess Basma’s vision of community governance and participation remains a cornerstone of JOHUD’s work and future thinking, reflected in the organization’s increasingly decentralized approach and high degree of local involvement. As stated by Princess Basma at the Global Land Forum last year, “the notion of participation, of the absolute importance of listening to individuals and communities, is crystal clear. Societies, governments and service providers, international donors, the private sector, and civil society cannot have a lasting, meaningful impact, unless they are truly responsive and reflective of the needs and opinions of the stakeholders and shareholders that they profess to uphold.” In May 2022 Princess Basma was bestowed the Order of the State Centennial by His Majesty King Abdullah for services and contributions to the advancement and progress of the nation. As a member of the Advisory Board of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, a global movement working to prevent, halt and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide, Princess Basma has also been advocating increasingly for environmental sustainability, and for JOHUD’s widespread networks to become a platform for environmental activism. National initiatives launched and directed by Princess Basma include the Goodwill Campaign (est.1991), which every year reaches thousands of families living in need, and the Queen Alia Competition for Social Responsibility, which for decades has raised social awareness amongst generations of Jordan’s school children. Princess Basma has chaired the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW), since its establishment in 1992. The JNCW is the highest official entity responsible for addressing women and gender-related issues, with a focus on legislative and policy reform. The Princess is an Honorary Human Development Ambassador for UNDP and Goodwill Ambassador for UN Women and the UNFPA. She holds a Doctorate degree in development from Oxford University. Princess Basma is married to Walid Kurdi and has four children; Farah (JOHUD’s Executive Director), Ghazi, Saad and Zein Al Sharaf, and eight grandchildren: Fatima Al Zahra, Zein Al Sharaf, Abdulaziz, Aysha, Iman, Basma, Haya and Alia.

Source: Jordan News Agency

The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today, Tuesday, that Damascus has decided to resume the work of its diplomatic mission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, according to the official Syrian News Agency, SANA.

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced, on Tuesday evening, that the Kingdom decided to resume the work of its diplomatic mission in Syria, according to what was reported by the official Saudi Press Agency.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

Head of the National Wisdom Movement, Ammar al-Hakim, discussed with National Security Adviser Qassem Al-Araji developments in the political scene in Iraq.

A statement by Al-Hakim’s office said: “The head of the Wisdom Movement received Al-Araji and discussed developments in the political and social scene in Iraq and the procedures and steps that contribute to perpetuating the current security stability.”

Al-Hakim reaffirmed that terrorism is a security threat that seeks to prove its existence, calling for the continuation of preemptive operations and security coordination with neighboring countries and the region to pursue terrorists as a threat to all, and that the security and safety of Iraq is a gateway to the security and safety of the region and the safety of the regional system.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

A security source announced that a girl committed suicide by burning herself using oil inside her house, within Al-Shaab area, north of Baghdad.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency

The Prime Minister, Muhammad Al-Sudani, received today, Wednesday, the Minister of Oil of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Jawad Oji.

And the media office of the Prime Minister stated in a statement that: “During the meeting, they discussed the overall cooperation relations between Iraq and Iran, and ways to develop them for the benefit of the two friendly peoples, and to enhance the ability of the two countries in facing global economic challenges.”

It added, “The Prime Minister sponsored the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Iraqi and Iranian ministries of oil, and it was signed on the Iraqi side by Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani, while it was signed on the Iranian side by Minister Jawad Oji.”

The memorandum included organizing aspects of cooperation to invest in the joint oil fields located on the borders between the two countries, cooperation in the fields of crude oil extraction, refining, and technological transactions with associated gas.

The memorandum concluded between the two sides also included strengthening cooperation between the two countries in the field of petrochemical industries, and in the field of training and qualifying staff working in the oil and gas sectors.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency