Amman: Jordan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ayman Al Safadi, stated that the meeting for Syria's neighboring countries, which was convened in Amman on Sunday, deliberated on challenges faced by Syria. During a joint press conference with the foreign ministers of Iraq, Turkiye, Lebanon, and Syria, Al Safadi added that the meeting agreed to maintain Syria's security and denounce any attempts that destabilize security in Syria, highlighting that the conferees underscored that Syria's security and stability are the security and stability of all.
According to Qatar News Agency, the neighboring countries stressed the importance of helping Syria in reconstruction and concurred in convening the second meeting for Syria's neighboring countries in Turkiye in April 2025, in pursuit of backing Syria, Al Safadi highlighted. He pointed out that the meeting discussed the challenges faced by Syria and reached an agreement on a collective effort to combat the ISIS group, emphasizing that there is a call for the lifting of sanctions on Syria and strengthening economic and investment cooperation to contribute to its reconstruction.
The meeting tackled the voluntary return of Syrian refugees, as there are 1.3 million Syrian refugees in Jordan, he continued, affirming that the final solution to the refugee issue lies in the voluntary return of refugees to their homeland and creating the necessary conditions in Syria to ensure their safe return.
For his part, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stressed that Turkiye pushes back against the Israeli expansive measures in the region and in Syrian territories alike, emphasizing the importance of propping up the new Syrian government. Syria's neighboring countries will unite their capabilities in combating ISIS, and it is essential to maintain the civilian population in Syria, Fidan underlined.
Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, highlighted that the meeting focused on the threats posed by ISIS in the region, along with the growing number of its militants in the region. He indicated that combating ISIS is the duty of all. Syria's stability is contingent upon opening dialogue with various components in the country, as countering ISIS requires not only Syrian efforts but also regional and international cooperation, Hussein highlighted.
He noted that the meeting agreed on setting fundamental principles on how to counter ISIS and ensure it doesn't expand, in addition to establishing a joint operations chamber to share information regarding ISIS and plan actions against it, with the engagement of the leadership in Syria.
Lebanon's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Youssef Raji, stressed that stability in Syria is very important for stability to prevail in Lebanon, adding that the meeting addressed border demarcation, combating narcotics and arms trafficking, as well as counter-terrorism.
Syria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Asaad Al Shaibani, emphasized that the meeting underscored the importance of lifting the sanctions on Syria, pending its reconstruction. He highlighted that from day one of resuming power, the new Syrian administration pursued tolerance to ensure the non-flare-up of any armed confrontations.
Al Shaibani underlined that the Syrian government will never allow the remnants of Al Assad's regime to destabilize security in the country, adding that every single individual who engaged in destabilizing security in the country over the past days would be held to account. Al Assad's regime caused the displacement of millions of Syrian people throughout the past years, Al Shaibani stressed, highlighting that all measures taken by the new Syrian government were intended to ensure security and stability in the country.