Brussels, 17/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - The ninth EU-Jordan Association Council meeting was held in Brussels on Monday 16 November on the fringes of the General Affairs Council. It decided to boost relations between the two sides, following in the wake of Morocco, the first country to be given “advanced partner” status. Tunisia has also asked to become an advanced partner and the EU has agreed to this in principle.
Speaking on behalf of the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Swedish secretary of state for foreign affairs, Frank Belfrage, said he was aware of the efforts made by Jordan to develop the Middle East and encouraged it in its programme of reforms. He said the EU would provide its backing for this work in line with the December 2008 Council decision to increase partnership between the EU and neighbouring countries. He explained that a mechanism would be set up to this effect. A technical committee was created on Monday that began work that very afternoon, explains the Swedish Presidency.
Jordan's foreign minister, Nasser Judeh, confirmed that high quality relations had been established between Brussels and Amman, based on mutual trust, and added that most of the debate had centred on the conflict between Israel and the Arabs. At a press conference, Judeh echoed comments he made during a hearing at the European Parliament that afternoon (with the EP delegation for relations with North Africa), about the importance of getting out of the current stalemate situation. He said the various exit scenarios involved recognition of Palestinians' rights to a stable, sovereign state as he put it, and recognising Israel's right to security guarantees. Quizzed by both MEPs and reporters, Judeh refused to give any details, highlighting instead the international community's duty, particularly the United States and the EU, to pressurise Israel to get it to respect international law and stop building settlements. He said that the Arab Peace Initiative was still up and running but would not last indefinitely. At some point, he said, the international community will have to take its duties seriously and actually implement its pledge to create two separate states, living peacefully and safely side-by-side. He mooted the option of proclaiming a state of Palestine based on international consensus at the United Nations. Judeh carefully avoided answering questions about the future of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) which is linked to the ins and outs of the Middle East peace process, he said, wriggling out of a question about France's idea of holding a UfM Peace summit later this year. (F.B./transl.fl)