Jordan, Sweden say creating Palestinian state key to Mideast peace

Jordan and Sweden said here on Sunday that establishing an independent Palestinian state is the key to Mideast peace, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

Jordanian Prime Minister Hani al-Mulki and his Swedish counterpart Stefan Lofven made the remarks during a talk on ways to cement bilateral ties and a host of Middle East issues, namely the Palestinian issue and the Syrian crisis.

They stressed that the establishment of a viable Palestinian state is key to peace and stability in the region, warning that failure to do justice to the Palestinian people will fuel more violence.

Mulki said Jordan and Sweden are key players in peacemaking efforts across the globe and they demonstrate strong commitment towards the fight against terrorism and extremism.

He warned that the current turmoil in the Middle East would impact security and stability in Europe since regional problems know no borders.

Mulki reiterated that the Palestinian issue remains the core of the conflict in the region, and any political solution should entail a two-state formula, vowing that Jordan will always embrace this issue as a top national priority.

Lofven hailed Jordan's efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world, saying that Sweden wants to boost cooperation and coordination with Jordan in hosting refugees, as both countries currently host refugees from Syria.

Mulki said Jordan saw a massive influx of Syrian refugees, which pushed the country into the need of more international support.

The Swedish official also stressed that the international community must increase aid to host countries.

The two sides emphasized ties in the economic domain and said opportunities exist for forging closer cooperation between the two countries. Endit