Amman, Feb. 9 (Petra) – French Ambassador Alexis Le Cour Grandmaison pledged France’s full support for Jordan in addressing political, economic, and security challenges, emphasizing the Kingdom’s role as a key ally and strategic partner.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Grandmaison highlighted France’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with Jordan on both bilateral and multilateral levels. France, he said, continues to provide aid to Jordan through the European Union and United Nations organizations, underscoring the importance of a strategic partnership agreement between Jordan and the EU.
Grandmaison said Paris opposed any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank as a violation of international law that threatens regional stability. He also rejected the expansion of Jewish settlements and land annexation in the West Bank, reiterating France’s firm position, a viable Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza that lives in peace alongside Israel.
The envoy welcomed the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire and urged all parties to uphold the agreement to pave the way for a political resolution. He noted France had voted in favor of all ceasefire resolutions, including those submitted by Jordan at the UN General Assembly.
The ambassador said that the French President announced that France and Saudi Arabia will co-host a conference in New York in June to advance the two-state solution.
On humanitarian efforts, Grandmaison praised Jordan’s role in the delivery of aid to Gaza, and said France was the first country to join Jordan-led airdrops on January 4, 2024. Since then, France has taken part in 29 airdrop missions as part of the international humanitarian coalition and provided ongoing relief aid in cooperation with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization.
He pledged France’s continued support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and condemned Israeli actions against the agency. France recently pledged an additional €20 million for UNRWA at a humanitarian conference in Cairo.
The ambassador also stressed France’s commitment to maintaining the historical status quo at Jerusalem’s holy sites, noting Jordan’s custodianship of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
He also said France’s position on Syria aligns with that of Jordan, advocating for an inclusive political transition, economic recovery and the gradual return of refugees. Paris is set to host a conference on Syria on February 13.
On Lebanon, Grandmaison emphasized France’s close cooperation with Jordan on ceasefire efforts and the implementation of UN Resolution 1701, noting that both countries support Lebanon’s political and economic recovery.
In response to Israel’s proposal to establish a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia, he dismissed the idea, asserting that a Palestinian state must be on Palestinian land in the West Bank and Gaza.
//Petra// AO
09/02/2025 15:06:00
