Jordan Times
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Jordan, Germany issue joint statement
Following is the full text of joint
German-Jordanian press statement issued after the meeting between His Majesty
King Abdullah and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday:
The Federal Chancellor Ms Angela Merkel and His Majesty King Abdullah met today
and had a very fruitful and constructive exchange. Their discussions focused on
current regional challenges, advancing international cooperation and bilateral
cooperation between Germany and Jordan. In the framework of this exchange both
sides underscored inter alia on the following issues:
1. The two leaders discussed key regional issues focusing especially on the
Middle East peace process. Germany and Jordan stressed the urgency of supporting
a process leading to a two-state solution with the establishment of an
independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state living side-by-side in
peace and security with Israel and its neighbors. Both sides strongly support
the Annapolis summit later this month and hope it will allow for substantial
progress towards a comprehensive settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian problem.
Both sides consider the Arab Peace Initiative to be a major element in moving
the process forward.
The two leaders also discussed the situation in Iraq and Lebanon.
2. Chancellor Ms Angela Merkel and His Majesty King Abdullah met today also in
their capacity as presidents of the G-8 and G-11 respectively. In this light,
the Chair’s Summary of Heiligendamm G-8 Summit earlier in June was recalled in
which the G-8 leaders welcomed holding this meeting between the presidents of
the two groups.
Both sides agreed that the meeting today was an important one. They exchanged
views on several related issues of mutual concern. Germany will report on the
discussions of this meeting to the remaining G-8 members and the upcoming G-8
presidency.
Germany welcomed the effort by His Majesty King Abdullah to advance the G-11
initiative and applauds the countries of the G-11 on their determination to move
forward with economic, political and social reforms.
Both sides stressed the value of the relationship between the developed and
developing countries and the importance of supporting developing countries who
are performing well, particularly those pushing forward with their reform
efforts and delivering on their commitments.
3. The growth in bilateral trade volume by 45 per cent in 2006 to an amount of
839 million euros is an expression of the outstanding bilateral economic
relations, which have continued to develop dynamically in recent years.
In addition, German companies have shown increasing interest in Jordan as a hub
for German trade relations, with Iraq. For this reason the German government
supports the participation of German companies at the “Rebuild Iraq Trade Fair”
in Amman. German foreign trade policy instruments like the Hermes Export Credit
Insurance or a new German-Jordanian Investment Protection Agreement will further
enhance our bilateral economic relations. In this context the success of the
German Jordanian University as a pilot project in the region has been welcomed.
4. It was highlighted that Germany firmly supported Jordan’s proposal regarding
the early repayment of its debts to the Paris Club. Germany therefore signed the
multilateral early repayment agreement between the Paris Club and Jordan in
Paris on October 18, 2007. The German government intends to make it possible for
Jordan to repurchase its debt in line with the agreement and has asked
parliament to grant the necessary approval for this transaction. In this way,
Germany would make yet another important contribution towards improving Jordan’s
debt situation, in line with its engagement in the past.
5. Germany and Jordan signed a new Investment Protection Agreement. The
agreement offers investors a high level of comprehensive legal protection. In
particular, it ensures national treatment and most-favored nation status, free
transfer of capital and profits, appropriate compensation in case of
expropriation, and the possibility for investor recourse to international legal
procedures in the event of investment disputes. At the same time, the Investment
Protection Agreement is the fundamental precondition enabling the German
government to provide investment guarantees covering non-commercial risks. This
agreement will give strong impetus for further improvement of the bilateral
investment relations.
6. In the past four decades, development cooperation has proven to be a positive
element in Jordanian-German relations. German official development assistance to
Jordan now totals as much as 1.2 billion euros. Since 2001, German official
support for water-scarce Jordan has focused on integrated water resource
management that is economically efficient, socially equitable and ecologically
sustainable. Integrated water resource management is the goal of the two
countries’ joint longer term strategy on which current cooperation between
Germany and Jordan is based. The strategy has also been well-coordinated with
other donors. Additionally, there are support endeavors in other areas, mainly
concerning the construction of primary schools.
Germany has granted Jordan debt swaps amounting to a total of 234 million euros.
These debt swaps granted debt cancellations with the proviso that the resources
freed up are used for environmental protection, education or poverty reduction
projects. This amount makes Jordan one of the top countries to have enjoyed such
swaps under German Financial Cooperation.
7. Germany and Jordan emphasize the importance of their cooperation within the
framework of the European Neighborhood Policy. The Federal Ministry of Economics
and Technology implements two Twinning projects to support institution building
in Jordan; one targeting standards and metrology and the other focusing on trade
policy and the implementation of the accession to World Trade Organization.
Twinning projects are intensifying the bilateral economic relations between both
countries and are creating a complementary basis for close cooperation between
Germany and Jordan.