Acting Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Gent Cakaj made a working visit to Jordan, where he was received in a meeting by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Jordan, Ayman Al Safadi.

The focus of the meeting was on the bilateral relations, the Albanian Chairmanship of the OSCE Mediterranean Contact Group, and the priorities of the Albanian OSCE Chairmanship in 2020.

In the course of the meeting, Acting Minister Cakaj dwelt on the Chairmanship of the OSCE Mediterranean Contact Group, expressing Albania’s all-out commitment to such initiative.

In this aspect, Acting Minister Cakaj focussed on the advance of dialogue with the partner countries in areas of common interest, with added value being conferred by the OSCE to issues, including security challenges, strengthening youth’s role in the society, and improved economic cooperation.

Acting Minister Cakaj informed Minister Al Safadi about the Mediterranean Conference to take place in Tirana between 24 and 25 October 2019, and the important topics to be addressed.

Further on, both conversational partners dwelt on the Albanian OSCE Chairmanship, being one of Albania’s key priorities during 2020.

Acting Minister Cakaj assured his counterpart Al Safadi that Albania will encourage the spirit of cooperation and consensus in the decision-making, with the conflict prevention and resolution efforts being at the top of the Albanian agenda. Likewise, Acting Minister Cakaj pointed out that Albania will promote the efforts to combat violent extremism, radicalisation and terrorism, and empower women’s role, and fight corruption and organised crime.

On his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Jordan, Ayman Al Safadi, underlined that Jordan is keen to have continued cooperation with and commitment to the OSCE through activities in the framework of the Mediterranean Partnership, mutual exchange, best practices, and capacity building with regard to current challenges. In this aspect, appreciation was expressed for the Mediterranean Conference to take place in Tirana between 24 and 25 October 2019.

Under the 2019 Albanian Chairmanship of the OSCE Mediterranean Contact Group working with the Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation, Jordan will continue to have a very active role in making a concrete contribution to issues, including the return of foreign fighters (foreign terrorist fighters), interfaith dialogue, and others. Additionally, Al Safadi stated that Jordan appreciates in a positive way the role played and efforts made by the Albanian Chairmanship of the Mediterranean Contact Group so as to further pursue the dialogue and cooperation between the OSCE participating countries and the Mediterranean Partner countries. Minister Al Safadi committed himself to ensuring that Jordan be represented in this conference.

In this framework, both Ministers expressed their all-out commitment to foster economic cooperation between the two countries, so as to make the most of the real potential for improving trade exchanges, promoting investments, or strengthening economic cooperation.