'Turkey, Jordan shoulder most of Syrian refugee crisis'

By Ugur Cil

ANKARA

Jordan and Turkey continue to shoulder most of the burden in the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis, according to Jordanian ambassador to Turkey.

In an interview with Anadolu Agency on Monday, Amjad al-Adaileh said Turkey has accepted over three million and Jordan 1.3 million refugees since the Syrian crisis began in March 2011.

"We [Jordan and Turkey] are the countries that welcome and accept Syrian refugees. Our brothers and sisters will remain as guests in these two countries until this crisis ends," he said.

He appreciated the support from the EU for Syrian refugees in areas such as health, and education but said the bloc and the international community was not meeting its commitments to Jordan, highlighting the fact that only 40 percent of Jordan’s spending on aid for Syrian refugees came from abroad.

Arab nations urged to do more

The Jordanian diplomat said the best solution to resolve the Syrian refugee crisis is to end the conflict in Syria through an integrated and comprehensive political process.

He also said Syrians would prefer to return to their own country instead of going to the EU if the crisis there gets resolved.

"Everyone wants to stay in their own country. We hope that the EU, the international community and other countries will support the political settlement of the crisis in Syria,” he added.

Al-Adaileh added the solution to the Syrian crisis should be a priority of Muslim countries. "Muslim countries and Arab countries should accept Syrian refugees," he said.

Astana talks ‘a good beginning’

The Jordanian ambassador praised how Turkey recently co-brokered a cease-fire in Syria and termed the talks in the Kazakhstan capital Astana as a "good beginning" to resolving the crisis in Syria.

Al-Adaileh thanked Turkey and Russia for their joint efforts in making the Syrian regime and opposition sit around the same table in Astana, adding this helped in opening the way for a comprehensive settlement to the crisis with a view to end all forms of violence and conflict in the country and return Syrian refugees to their homeland.

"Undoubtedly, we appreciate and thank Turkey for its support,” Al-Adaileh said, adding Turkey is an important player in the region.

He also said Turkey and Jordan are the two countries that carry the most burden from the Syrian crisis.

The ambassador also said any solution to the Syrian crisis needs to consider the integrity of Syrian territories and unity of the Syrian people.

"Syrian people will decide the future of Syria and who will manage Syria," he added.