The meeting’s first focus was on developments in the peace process. Minister Bonino expressed deep appreciation for Jordan’s key role in fostering its revival, and underscored the need to ensure full support for the American administration’s efforts toward that end, at the same time stressing the need for international community’s unified encouragement of both the parties to resume direct talks and avoid unilateral actions that would impede the launch of the process.
Also reviewed were developments in the Syrian crisis. Reiterating that the only possible objective was a political solution that included Assad stepping down, Minister Bonino observed that, in order to achieve that objective, the Syrian opposition coalition was working to strengthen cohesiveness by including the entire spectrum of the Syrian population and to increase effectiveness on the ground by isolating extremists.
Broad attention was also reserved for the conflict’s dramatic impact on the civilian population. Acknowledging Jordan’s extraordinary commitment to assisting and protecting Syrian refugees on its soil, Emma Bonino ensured that Italy would boost its humanitarian aid programme in the region, including in Jordan.
