AMMAN, Sept. 12 (Petra) – Germany and the Synchrotron-light for
Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME)
center signed an agreement on Friday establishing Germany as the
facility’s first-ever associate member, marking a historic milestone
for the international research organization.

According to a statement released by the center on Saturday, the
agreement was finalized during a high-level ceremony hosted by the
German Federal Ministry of Education and Research in Berlin,
featuring SESAME Director Dr. Khalid Touqan and State Secretary at
the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space Dr.
Marcus Pleyer.

The pact formalizes a deep-rooted partnership between Berlin and the
region’s premier large-scale research facility. Touqan emphasized
that Germany’s elevation to associate member status injects immense
scientific weight into the SESAME community, supercharging joint
research opportunities, knowledge transfer, and technical integration
across structural biology, materials science, environmental studies,
and cultural heritage preservation.

“This is a resounding endorsement of science diplomacy as an
instrument for global stability,” Touqan stated, noting that
Germany’s contribution transcends funding a scientific installation
to invest directly in a sanctuary of peace, dialogue, and stability
in the Middle East.

Echoing this sentiment, State Secretary Bleiler underscored Berlin’s
long-standing commitment to fostering cutting-edge innovation and
cross-border stability. “Science knows no borders, and science
diplomacy is more crucial than ever,” Pleyer said, adding that the
membership represents an investment in both global research
pathways–from structural biology to green energy–and the vital
stability and prosperity of the Middle East through peaceful
cooperation.

Jordanian Ambassador to Germany Fayez Khouri highlighted that
Germany’s accession embodies a shared belief that science serves as a
vital bridge for communication and rapprochement. He noted that the
partnership opens new horizons for trust-building and collaborative
discovery while equipping the next generation of regional physicists,
engineers, and young researchers with world-class tools and networks.

//Petra// AA