Jordan Daily – Prime Minister Bisher Khasawneh met with Germany’s Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development Svenja Schulze on Tuesday and discussed bilateral ties and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Khasawneh briefed the German delegation on King Abdullah’s efforts to stop the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave, where more than 10,000 people, mostly women and children, have been killed.
Khasawneh reiterated the need to end the war and open a political horizon for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the two-state solution, in order to guarantee the security and stability of the region and foster cooperation and development.
The Prime Minister also praised the deep Jordanian-German partnership and thanked Germany for its aid and technical assistance to the Kingdom for implementing economic and development projects in various sectors.
He said Jordan looks forward to strengthening relations with Germany, which are marking their 70th anniversary, and to benefiting from its expertise in education reform, especially vocational and technical education.
He also mentioned a center that was established to facilitate the movement of labor and develop skills between the two countries, as part of a joint cooperation framework document that was signed during King Abdullah’s latest visit to Germany, which would support efforts to enhance human capacities and vocational and technical training.
Khasawneh reviewed Jordan’s modernization scheme in its political, economic and administrative tracks, which includes ambitious goals to boost growth, create jobs and attract foreign investments.
He also spoke about the challenges posed by the Syrian refugee crisis, which strained vital sectors such as education and water, amid declining international aid to the Jordanian response plan to the Syrian crisis.
Schulze said Germany, as a partner of Jordan, was keen to continue supporting the implementation of economic projects and programs that benefit Jordan and its people.
She acknowledged the effort and burden Jordan bears as a host of refugees, and pledged to continue supporting it in this endeavor.
She also confirmed that Germany would announce additional aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), and expressed regret for civilian casualties on both sides in the ongoing war on Gaza.
