Amman, April 27 (Petra) – The Senate's Committee on Arab and International Affairs and Expatriates, chaired by Senator Hani Mulqi, met on Monday with a Turkish parliamentary delegation headed by Fuat Oktay, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

The meeting, held at the Senate and attended by Turkish Ambassador to Jordan Yakup Oglu, focused on the latest developments in the Middle East, as well as bilateral relations and parliamentary cooperation.

Mulqi said that Jordan's ties to Turkey have steadily grown since the founding of the Jordanian state, supported by the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

He added that the region is undergoing a critical period marked by significant challenges requiring wisdom and careful handling.

He discussed the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as continued Israeli violations, as major obstacles to achieving stability and development.

Mulqi criticised Israeli unilateral policies, including settlement expansion, violations in the occupied West Bank and breaches of international law and agreements.

He warned against threats to displace Palestinians and ongoing attacks on Islamic and Christian holy sites, stressing the importance of the Hashemite custodianship over holy sites in occupied Jerusalem and cautioning against restrictions on worshippers' access to Al Aqsa Mosque.

He said that ongoing tensions negatively affect regional security and stability, affirming Jordan's commitment to engaging all parties in line with its national interests.

He commended Turkey's role in supporting regional peace efforts.

Mulqi called for enhancing cooperation and exchanging expertise across various sectors and reiterated the importance of working toward a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction.

Oktay, in turn, conveyed greetings from President Erdoğan and the Turkish people, expressing appreciation for Jordan under the leadership of King Abdullah II.

He said the visit aims to strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Oktay highlighted Turkey's interest in boosting economic cooperation, increasing trade and encouraging Turkish investment in Jordan.

He said that Turkey rejects Israeli expansionist policies and urged coordinated regional efforts to address ongoing challenges.

He praised Jordan's role in supporting the Palestinian people and noted the alignment of positions between the two countries, including Turkey's appreciation for the Hashemite custodianship of holy sites in Jerusalem.

Oktay called for deeper parliamentary and technical cooperation, as well as expanded collaboration in culture, education, tourism, transport and renewable energy.

He also called for regional connectivity projects, including railways and energy transmission initiatives, in strengthening energy security.

//Petra// AK