Jordanian King Abdullah II voiced his support to Egypt in all issues that affect Egyptian national security on top of which is the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Tuesday.

In a press conference he held with his Jordanian counterpart Bisher Al-Khasawneh, in Amman, Madbouly said he had met with King Abdullah II earlier today.

Madbouly said the king affirmed that Jordan’s security is inseparable from Egyptian security.

“The Jordanian king, for his part, voiced his full support to all Egyptian issues and confirmed that any issues that affect any of the two countries reflect negatively on the other,” said Madbouly.

Madbouly also said that the king has affirmed the two countries’ similar vision towards all issues.

Al-Khasawneh said Jordan fully supports the Egyptian stance towards the central issues it faces and backs Egypt’s calls for resolving the GERD issue, without causing any harm to the Riparian states, especially Egypt.

The Kingdom supports “the Egyptian approach related to the Renaissance Dam [as well as] the horizons and mechanism the Egyptian leadership has introduced, in line with this approach,” Al-Khasawneh added.

Egypt and Sudan have been in dispute with Ethiopia over the filling and operating of the massive dam on the Blue Nile.

Egypt and Sudan require that a binding agreement among the three countries is reached before Ethiopia completes the dam filling. Ethiopia, however, reiterated its plans to fill the dam in July with or without an agreement.

Al-Khasawneh said Egypt and Jordan are fully coordinating on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

“This ideal relation between the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Arab Republic of Egypt are based on [the fact] that we are always in the same boat,” said Al-Khasawneh.

Al-Khasawneh also added that Egypt and Jordan always share the same position with regard to any threats that target the national security of either of the two countries, or Arab national security as a whole.

The press conference comes after Madbouly had met on Tuesday with King Abdullah and seperately co-chaired the 29th session of the Joint Egyptian-Jordanian Higher Committee along with Al-Khasawneh. Ministers from both countries took part in the meeting.

During the joint committee meeting, the Egyptian and Jordanian sides signed seven documents of cooperation in the fields of planning, antiquities, housing, urban development and communication.

The two sides also agreed on boosting electricity linkage between Egypt and Jordan.

Egyptian and Jordanian electricity ministers sign a document for cooperation (photo courtesy of the Egyptian Cabinet)

King's meeting

Meeting with Madbouly, the king voiced support to all proposals of cooperation - with Egypt - to serve the interests of both countries.

King Abdullah II also hailed the historic relations with Egypt on all levels.

He conveyed his greetings to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and said that he looks forward to meeting the president soon, the Egyptian Cabinet said.

Madbouly briefed the king on the outcome of the joint committee's meetings. The PM also affirmed the importance Egypt attaches to boost cooperation with Jordan.

Jordanian King Abdullah II receives Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly in Amman (photo courtesy of the Egyptian Cabinet)

Joint committee meeting

The meeting, co-chaired by Madbouly and Al-Khasawneh, discussed bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Jordan, trilateral cooperation with Iraq, the GERD issue and the Palestinian cause.

The delegation accompanying Madbouly includes the ministers of electricity, petroleum, supply, international cooperation, health, communications, housing, transportation, civil aviation, agriculture and trade.

Madbouly hailed Egypt and Jordan's success in dealing with the exceptional circumstances imposed by the pandemic, compared to other nations with bigger capabilities, the Cabinet added.

Madbouly then called for Egyptian-Jordanian cooperation to overcome the coronavirus crisis.

The Egyptian PM said El-Sisi tasked him to convey a message of full support to the people of Jordan, especially in terms of the coronavirus pandemic. Madbouly said the president also ordered a response to the Jordanian side’s requests in this regard, in line with the Egyptian capabilities.

Egypt offered condolences this month over the death of six coronavirus patients in Jordan due to the lack of oxygen. The tragic incident led Jordanian Health Minister Nathir Obeidat to resign.

Egyptian and Jordanian PMs co-chair the 29th joint committee meeting (photo courtesy of the Egyptian Cabinet)

The Egyptian PM during the meeting also affirmed the need for joint work in reaching political solutions and settlements to regional issues.

Madbouly affirmed that the Palestinian cause is a central issue for both Egypt and Jordan.

He highlighted the two countries’ efforts to settle the cause based on the agreed upon international references and in accordance to the two-state solution.

This requires the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the borders of 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital, Madbouly affirmed.

Madbouly expressed his appreciation for the Jordanian support to the Egyptian and Sudanese stance towards the Renaissance Dam (GERD). He reiterated Egypt’s determination to resolve the GERD dispute by diplomatic means.

Madbouly called for boosting and expanding trade exchange with Jordan so that it includes new fields and urged encouraging mutual investments.

He stressed the need to continue coordination and communication in order to address any challenges facing trade exchange between the two countries.

Madbouly also expressed hope that the trilateral meeting between Egypt, Jordan and Iraq - scheduled for Wednesday - will witness the signing of agreements that would be implemented on the ground very soon, especially in the fields of energy and trade exchange.