NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks at a press conference during his visit in Amman, Jordan, on March 6, 2018. NATO commended on Tuesday Jordan's contribution to regional and international security and called on continued cooperation with the kingdom in various areas. (Xinhua/Mohammad Abu Ghosh)
AMMAN, March 6 (Xinhua) -- NATO commended on Tuesday Jordan's contribution to regional and international security and called on continued cooperation with the kingdom in various areas.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said so in a joint press conference in Amman with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Safadi.
He said NATO remains committed to the international fight against terrorism, and the organization strongly "values the partnership with Jordan."
Jordan plays key role in the fight against Islamic State, Stoltenberg said.
"We have to make sure that it will not be able to re-emerge and we need to continue the political fights against these ideologies," he added.
Jordan has been a key ally of NATO for more than 20 years, he said, adding that Jordan was a key for regional stability as well.
He voiced appreciation for Jordan's contribution to NATO missions and operations.
"We work in cyber defense and border security and we will continue to work with Jordan," he added.
Prior to the conference, the NATO official met with Safadi and discussed ties and regional developments.
Safadi stressed the importance of cooperation with NATO in various areas to entrench stability and security in the region.
Discussions also covered the situation in Syria and the Palestinian issue as well, in which Safadi stressed the centrality of the Palestinian issue and the need for a two-state solution leading to the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
On Syria, Safadi said ending the suffering of the Syrians is a priority, adding that the situation in Eastern Ghouta is disastrous.
The minister added that there was no military solution to the crisis in Syria and that efforts for a political solution need to be speeded up.
Also Tuesday, King Abdullah II of Jordan met with the NATO chief, saying Jordan was keen on increasing cooperation with NATO.
