Safadi, Lavrentiev talk Gaza ceasfire, Syrian crisis

Amman: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Ayman Safadi, on Wednesday discussed with Russian President's Special Envoy on Syrian Settlement, Alexander Lavrentiev, efforts to stop the Israeli aggression against Gaza and the ensuing humanitarian catastrophe there. During the meeting held at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Safadi and Lavrentiev discussed developments in the Syrian crisis and efforts aimed to reach a political solution to it, which preserves Syria's unity, cohesion and sovereignty, restores its security, fulfills aspirations of the Syrian people, and provides the conditions that allow the voluntary return of refugees. Warning of continuing attempts to smuggle weapons and drugs from Syria to Jordan, Safadi stressed that the Kingdom will continue to take all "necessary" steps to end this danger and protect its interests and its citizens' safety. Safadi and Lavrentiev also discussed bilateral relations and a slew of issues of common interest, expressing the common keenness to strengthen ties in various fields, according a Foreign Ministry statement. Source: Jordan News Agency