jordan pulse -

Prime Minister Jafar Hassan and his Iraqi counterpart Ali Zaidi on Monday witnessed the signing of nine agreements to strengthen cooperation across several sectors.

The agreements cover diplomatic cooperation, competition and antitrust, consumer protection, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, documents and manuscripts, higher education and scientific research, education, and environmental protection.

Hassan said Jordan and Iraq must move joint economic projects into the implementation phase through practical steps and clear timelines.

He said that Amman and Baghdad have a "genuine" opportunity to elevate economic cooperation to match their strong political ties, particularly in energy, industry, transportation, trade and logistics.

Hassan added that Iraq's security and stability are integral to the security and stability of Jordan and the wider region.

Given the region's sensitive circumstances and rapidly evolving challenges, Hassan said, stronger consultation and coordination between Jordan, Iraq and other Arab countries are "more important than ever." He called for prioritizing dialogue and political and diplomatic solutions to regional crises, respect states' sovereignty and territorial integrity, and reject any interference that could undermine regional security and stability.

Hassan also voiced Jordan's rejection of Israeli policies in Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and Gaza that seek to undermine prospects for establishing a Palestinian state, impose new realities on the ground and displace Palestinians.

He said Jordan would continue working with Arab countries and international partners to counter these escalating measures, which pose a threat to the region.

Hassan added that keeping Palestinians on their land remains central to Jordan's efforts under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II and is "essential" to safeguarding Palestinian rights, foremost among them the right to establish an independent state.

He warned that Israel's settlement and expansionist policies in Palestinian territories and across the region threaten both regional and global security.

Hassan also pledged Jordan's support for Syria and Lebanon in their efforts to achieve security, stability and development, while condemning repeated Israeli attacks and occupation of their territories.

Zaidi, for his part, described Jordan as a strategic partner for Iraq, saying Baghdad was committed to taking the necessary steps and following up on efforts to boost cooperation across all sectors.

He also said that Jordan's security is "inseparable" from Iraq's, describing security as a shared responsibility, and noted the importance of closer coordination.

Officials studied mechanisms for completing major joint projects in energy, transport, electricity interconnection, security and other sectors. They presented proposals to advance implementation through clear timelines and concrete measures.

The Prime Ministers agreed to establish a mechanism to monitor the implementation of these projects and coordinate follow-up efforts.

//Petra// HA